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 Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments. 

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work. 

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks. 

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed. 

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.  

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.

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