NYC Man Charged in Wheel Estates Murder

Staff reports
iBerkshires
05:00PM / Thursday, August 21, 2008

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NORTH ADAMS — A New York City man has been charged with the murder of Daniel J. Walters, who was stabbed to death early Wednesday morning.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said Ronnell Garmie, 19, was arrested by members of the New York City Police Department, New York State Police Fugitive Unit and U.S. marshals at about 6 a.m. on Thursday in the Bronx.

Walters, 24, of North Adams, was allegedly killed during a dispute at Wheel Estates Mobile Home Park. Neighbors called police shortly be 2 a.m. on Wednesday reporting sounds of shouting and fighting. Walters was found on a lawn at 21 Navajo Drive and taken to North Adams Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Sexton determined that the preliminary cause of death was exsanguination, or blood loss, because of the multiple stab wounds Walters had suffered. The autopsy was conducted Thursday at the office of the medical examiner in Holyoke.   

Garmie allegedly fled the scene; police mounted a search for him early on Wednesday, calling in Blue the bloundhound and her handler, Williamstown Police Officer Michael Ziemba, and a state police helicopter.

Garmie was arrested at the home of his mother. He will be arraigned as a fugitive from justice in New York and will eventually be returned to Massachusetts to face a charge of murder in connection with Walters' slaying.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the North Adams Police Department, state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office and members of the state police Crime Scene Services Section with the assistance of members of the NYPD, New York State Police, U.S. marshals and members of the Pittsfield, Williamstown and Adams police departments. 


Original posting from 5 p.m., Aug. 20, 2008 
    
Fatal Stabbing Occurs at Wheel Estates; Police Searching for Suspect

NORTH ADAMS — Police are investigating the stabbing death of a city man at Wheel Estates Mobile Home Park early this morning. His attacker is believed to be still at large.

Daniel J. Walters, 24, was fatally stabbed early Wednesday morning on Navajo Drive, a quiet dead-end street in the mobile home park.

A suspect was reported to have fled the scene on foot into the woods behind Navajo Drive. He is described as a black man, last seen wearing a white shirt and who may go by the name of "Clue." He reportedly has a tattoo on his ankle that says "Ronnelle."

According to the police log, Williamstown's bloodhound Blue and Officer Michael Ziemba were called in as well as a state police helicopter.

Local police have referred questions to the district attorney's office. Fred Lantz, spokesman for David F. Capeless' office described the assault as an "ongoing investigation."

Neighbors began calling the Police Department shortly before 2 a.m., saying they heard a man shouting and "things being thrown around the residence," according to the police log. One caller said there had been an attempted breaking and entering and that a man had been stabbed. Several other calls reported a stabbing at 21 Navajo Drive.

Police blocked off Navajo Drive for most of Wednesday. Investigators and their vehicles could be seen at the end of the roadway.

When officers responded they found Walters outside suffering from several stab wounds. He was transported to North Adams Regional Hospital by the North Adams Ambulance Service and pronounced dead a short time after arriving.

An autopsy to determine the cause of Walter's death was expected be held at the office of the chief medical examiner in Holyoke on Thursday.    

Wheel Estates was calm on Wednesday afternoon, with children flitting about on bikes and people mowing lawns. The only the sign of the tragedy was the police tape that cordoned off sections of the park. The southern section of Navaho Drive was blocked off and only residents allowed to enter the area; on the north section of Navaho, two mobiles behind the crime scene were blocked off.

Investigators could be seen working at the far end of Navajo Drive, near the woods that rise along the hillside behind the park.

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A park resident said his relative had seen Walters stagger on to her lawn and fall.

It was not clear if Walters or his attacker lived in the park. Lantz said his office had no address for Walters.

The park resident said he believed the fight had been between two boyfriends — an old and a new one — of a woman who lived on Navajo Drive. That information could not be confirmed.

Anyone who may have information into the circumstances surrounding the death is asked to call the North Adams Police Department (413-663-4944).

The investigation is being conducted by members of the North Adams Police Department, state troopers assigned to the district attorney's office and members of the state police Crime Scene Services Section. 

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