DA Says Kelsie Cote Killed Grandmother, Attempted to Conceal Evidence

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district attorney says Kelsie Cote assaulted and killed her grandmother with scissors and a paper weight on Halloween night and attempted to conceal the evidence. 

On Thursday, Cote was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court for first degree murder of Doris A. Cote on or between Oct. 31 and Nov.1, 2022. Her counsel waived the reading of the remaining counts on the indictment and a pre-trial hearing has been set for Nov.14. 

Cote, 26, of 22 Rich St. in North Adams, was charged with murder, assault to murder and evidence tampering in the death of her 74-year-old grandmother. 

Cote, who had a not-guilty plea entered on her behalf, entered the court room in a wheel chair for the arraignment. 

It is alleged that on or about Oct. 26 and on Nov. 1, Cote altered, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed a record, document, or other object or attempted to with the intent of impairing the record, document, or object's integrity for use in an official proceeding. 

On or between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 is alleged that Cote assaulted and beat her grandmother with a paperweight and scissors, assaulted her scissors with the intent to murder, and by such assault did kill her in her home at 300 Church St.  

The Chief Medical Examiner in Westfield found that Doris Cote "suffered from bruising at the base of her neck, the center of her forehead, the bridge of her nose or left cheek and her left ear. There were seven total wounds that were primarily about her head."

During police interviews prior to her arrest, Kelsie Cote said she panicked upon finding her grandmother's body and did not call for help right away. Police also reported that Cote admitted to cleaning up the scene.

The affidavit includes include a photocopy of Doris Cote's will that names Kelsie Cote as an heir to more than $1,000,000.

North Adams License Board OKs New Italian Restaurant

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:47PM / Wednesday, March 18, 2026

The inside of the Mohawk, which is being revamped as a lounge to go with the new Italian restaurant in the former Grazie. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — David Moresi has a vision to bring a bit of the North End to North Adams.

 

He explained his plans to the License Commission on Tuesday as he applied for an all-alcohol license for Zio Roberto Ristorante and Taverna, which is expected to open in late May. 

 

The Mohawk bar and the former Grazie restaurant space in the Mulcare Building, which Moresi owns, will operate as a single entity — one side as a lounge, and the other as a full-service restaurant. 

 

"We're still going to call it the Mohawk. I mean, let me be clear from the start, in no way am I looking to operate a bar operation here," he said of the Mohawk. "There's no we've gone through the entire place. There's no jukebox, there's no pool table. We're really looking to create something very unique here, which basically is lacking in the area."

 

He has been describing the lounge as an Italian "speakeasy," or a private club open to the public — a space with overstuffed chairs and Chesterfield couches with an Italian theme. The focus will be on small plates, appetizers, craft cocktails, wines and bottled beer. 

 

"Then with the restaurant itself, we're really excited about this," Moresi said. "Obviously, I have the team here of both Nick [Moulton] and Pete [Belmonte], and we're just looking to do authentic Italian cuisine at this establishment. 

 

"As far as alcohol operations, bar operations, we still have the bar in the restaurant space, which also is a very popular spot for people to get a meal, appetizer and eat and socialize, so full bar service there."