North Adams Man Indicted on Murder, Arson Charges

Staff Reports 02:30PM / Friday, April 03, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Darius Hazard was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder related to deaths of his parents last November.

Hazard, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charges and to a third charge of arson of a dwelling house.

He is being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction, where he has been housed since Nov. 25.

Hazard is accused of assaulting his parents, Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76, on Nov. 24, 2025, and setting fire to the family on Francis Street.

The bodies of his parents were discovered in the home by firefighters.

North Adams Police said Hazard allegedly confessed to the assaults and the arson when he was taken into custody that day.

Hazard was initially arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 26 and was to appear for a pretrial hearing on March 3. That hearing was postponed but he was indicted March 23 on the felony charges and his case removed to Berkshire Superior Court.

The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2026, in Superior Court.

Tags: arson, murder,

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Berkshire Democrats Host Candidate Forum Friday

06:29PM / Monday, April 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Democratic town committees and political action groups will sponsor a countywide Democratic candidates forum this Friday, April 10.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the Common Room at Zion Lutheran Church located at 74 First St.

The event will feature elected state and federal officials, especially those running for seats in the 2026 election. Challengers for those seats will also address attendees.

Working in coalition with the Berkshire Democratic Brigades, Berkshire Indivisible, Greylock Together, Indivisible Berkshires, and the Rural Freedom Network, the Democratic town committees of Adams, Dalton, Great Barrington, Sheffield, and Stockbridge anticipate that this event will educate voters about candidates' positions on political issues.

In addition, the forum will give voters the opportunity to network and to meet candidates and discuss legislation that will improve Berkshire County's economy, promote environmental justice, and reduce economic disparity in the region.

Candidates committed to attend include District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, 1st Mass congressional candidate Jeromie Whalen, U.S. Senate candidate Alex Rikleen, and 1st Berkshire representative candidate Andrew Fitch.

Also speaking will be representatives from the campaigns for Edward Markey for U.S. Senate and for Maural Healey and Kim Driscoll for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.

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