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Family members of the Pascual-Polanco brothers gather outside of Berkshire Superior on Thursday to speak to media after the two men were sentenced to life in prison.

Pascual-Polanco Brothers Sentenced to Life for 2019 Homicide

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Chiry Omar Pascual-Polanco and Carlos Pascual-Polanco on Thursday were given life sentences without possibility for parole for the murder of 18-year-old Jaden Salois in 2019.

The brothers lured Salois, of Dalton, outside a Pittsfield home for a false drug deal and shot him in the back in the early morning hours on Jan. 20, 2019. Prosecutors say the killing was over allegations of stolen marijuana. 
 
During the sentencing at Berkshire Superior Court, several of Salios' family members gave impact statements that detailed his kind disposition and hopes for the future. They said it was unfair for him to be robbed of it.

"A piece of me is gone that will never be replaced," his mother Megan Bernardini wrote.

"Over the past 3 1/2 years, me and my family have experienced endless sleepless nights and have had never-ending thoughts of why this happened to Jaden and why this happened to us," his cousin Brianna Crucitti said. "We still don't know why it happened to him or why it happened to us."

Family members of Chiry Omar, 26, and Carlos, 22, called the verdict is an injustice, arguing that there was not sufficient provable evidence and that the brothers are innocent.  

They did not speak at the sentencing but offered statements to iBerkshires afterward.

Sister Marisela Pascual knew that she and her brothers had "no fighting chance" for their lives in this community and said it is clear that they didn’t commit the crime.

"That didn't matter to the jury who made the deliberations in under six hours," Pascual added. "Obvious to say, they had their minds made up."

Their mother Maribel Polanco said the verdict is a "big injustice" and racism against her children, arguing that it was decided on because they have a Hispanic last name.

Cousin Elina Estrella said the case showed a lot of circumstantial evidence that was not concrete and pointed to a lack of diversity on the jury. She believes that if Salois was a person of color and her cousins were white, it "would have been a different story."

Last month, the brothers were found guilty of murder in the first degree by a Berkshire Superior Court jury following a two-week trial that saw the prosecution call 30 witnesses. They were also found guilty on two counts of possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card, two counts of possession of ammunition without an FID, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.



The two were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Cedar Junction in South Walpole.

The other counts carry a sentence of two years in the Berkshire County House of Corrections and one carries a sentence of five years in the state correctional facility.

A third co-defendant, Dasean Smith, 24, of Pittsfield, is also charged with murder and will be tried separately.

"I send my condolences to Jaden's loved ones, and I admire their courage in delivering their powerful victim impact statements to the court. Jaden is gone but lives on in the hearts of those who loved him, and I hope this measure of accountability supports his family," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.
 
"I thank the Pittsfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police for their investigation into this senseless homicide, and I am proud of the trial team for their presentation of the facts to the jury."

Salois' grandmother said he had gotten in with the wrong crowd and that his family always hoped that he would realize that this life wasn't going to work out for him. She said they spent a lot of time talking on the phone about how to improve his circumstances prior to his death.

"He had hopes and dreams like we all do. A future life with marriage and children. He knew we wanted to be a dad," Salois' other grandmother said.

"He knew he wanted to have God in his life and I would take him to every church in the city until he found one that he felt comfortable with. He never had a chance to do that because time ran out for him."


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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Home with Comfort and Functionality

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for a nice colonial home with room to enjoy life? Then this might be the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 17 Kittredge Road.

The house was built in 1949 and includes four bedrooms and three baths. It is 2,430 square feet with 3.32 acres. It is on the market for $525,000.

The house also includes a sunroom and seasonal porch, along with a fireplace, as well as a garage. The house also features a fully finished basement with a game room, laundry room, and extra living space.

We spoke to Maggie Gavin with William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?  

Gavin: What really makes this home stand out is the combination of neighborhood setting, square footage, and versatility. It's located in a well-established Pittsfield neighborhood while offering a larger-than-average home with multiple living areas. Between the additional family room, finished basement, and the extra garage and shed space, the property provides exceptional storage and flexibility — features that are increasingly hard to find. It's a home that offers both comfort and functionality, with space to spread out and adapt to a variety of lifestyles.  

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Gavin: My first impression was how welcoming and functional the layout feels. The rooms flow naturally, there's great natural light throughout, and the home immediately feels comfortable rather than formal. It's the kind of space that feels easy to live in from the moment you step inside.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Gavin: One of the most special aspects of this home is that it has had only one owner, which really speaks to how well it has been cared for over the years. It was clearly a home meant to be lived in and loved long-term, with thoughtful updates made along the way. That sense of pride in ownership is something you feel throughout the property.  

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Gavin: This home is ideal for someone looking for space and flexibility — whether that's a growing family, multigenerational use, a buyer who works from home and needs multiple living areas, or someone who values privacy and outdoor space without sacrificing convenience. It's also a great fit for buyers who love to entertain or host holidays.

Are there any recent renovations or standout design features?

Gavin: Yes — there have been significant recent updates, including major mechanical improvements, roof and refreshed interior finishes. Standout features include the multiple living spaces, the four season sunroom overlooking the yard, and the finished lower level, which adds versatility for recreation, guests, or work-from-home needs.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Gavin: I would encourage buyers to picture how effortlessly this home adapts to different seasons and lifestyles — cozy winter evenings by the fireplace, summer gatherings in the yard, quiet mornings in the sunroom, and flexible spaces that grow and change with your needs. It's a home that supports both everyday living and special moments.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.


 

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