Berkshire Grand Jury Returns Indictments in Delacruz-Batista, Tatro Murders

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A grand jury has returned indictments against five defendants on charges related to the murder of Reymon Delacruz-Batista and against one defendant for the homicide of Jillian Tatro.
 
In the Delacruz-Batista homicide, the grand jury returned indictments of Jamel Nicholson, Timothy McFadden, Naquan Miller and Anthony Robertson for murder and other charges. The grand jury also returned an indictment of Melissa Perrea for obstruction of justice and destruction of documents and objects.
 
Berkshire Superior Court will arraign all of the defendants in the coming weeks.
 
Hunters discovered Delacruz-Batista's body in the Pittsfield State Forest early on Dec. 4, 2021. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that he died because of multiple gunshot wounds.
 
Nicholson faces charges of murder, armed kidnapping with serious bodily injury, accessory before the fact, accessory after the fact, and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm. 
 
McFadden faces charges of murder, armed kidnapping with serious bodily injury, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, and two counts of illegal possession of a loaded firearm.
 
Miller faces charges of murder, armed kidnapping with serious bodily injury, accessory before the fact, accessory after the fact, and description of documents and objects. 
 
Robertson faces charges of murder, armed kidnapping with serious bodily injury, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, and two counts of illegal possession of a loaded firearm.
 
In Jillian Tatro homicide, the grand jury returned a murder indictment against Luis Rosado. Berkshire Superior Court will arraign him on Aug. 4.
 
North Adams Police and Northern Berkshire Emergency Medical Services discovered Tatro deceased inside a home on Charles Street in North Adams on May 29. Rosado, her husband of five months, was charged with stabbing her to death.
 
The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office is investigating both homicides.
 
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
 
In Central Berkshire District Court this week, the District Attorney's Office obtained a guilty verdict in the jury trial of Timothy Smithies for breaking and entering. The commonwealth proved to a jury that Smithies broke into a Pittsfield garage in June 2020. The court sentenced Smithies to serve nine months at the House of Correction.

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Pittsfield Nearing the End of $40M ARPA Program

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Gina Armstrong, special projects manager, updates the City Council on Tuesday on the last $400,000 in ARPA funds to be spent.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In five years, the city has dispersed almost all of the $40.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Pittsfield has a year-end deadline to spend the last $400,000. Special Project Manager Gina Armstrong said if remaining projects conclude as planned, she will deliver a final report in July. 

"Which is really hard to believe," she said to the City Council on Tuesday. 

"In a way, it feels like we just started planning the use of the funds, and here we are. We're really measuring the impact, which is significant in just a broad scope of investments for the city." 

In 2021, Pittsfield was awarded $40,602,779 to be spent on public health, addressing negative economic impacts, infrastructure, and revenue replacement. Some of that money also went to administrative expenses. 

Funds for public health, $4.7 million, and infrastructure, $5.9 million, have been fully expended. As of March 31, $39,612,438 was spent on 84 projects; 95 percent of them are complete. 

Armstrong said this funding had a significant impact on the availability of affordable housing and support services for people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. 

Housing projects saw an $8.6 million ARPA investment, creating 84 affordable units, seven single-family homes that are in progress, and the Housing Resource Center at The First. 

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