Pittsfield Woman Charged with Husband's Murder

02:28PM / Monday, February 09, 2009Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Charlene Grandson Martin, 45, entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to one charge of murder related to the stabbing death of her husband, Aurthur Martin.

Charlene Martin was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court before Judge Frederic Rutberg. Her case was continued to March 9 for a pretrial conference.

According to police reports, Martin said she and her husband were watching television when he left the room and re-entered with a knife. She allegedly told police that they were joking around when she pushed his arm away and he was struck by the knife.

Her explanation was reportedly inconsistent with the findings of the medical examiner, according to The Berkshire Eagle. Police said the couple had a history of domestic incidents and that Martin has been the "agressor." The knife was found in a closet.

Martin is being held without bail in the Berkshire County House of Correction.

Posted Feb. 8, 2009

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined that stabbing victim Arthur Martin bled to death.

Martin, 49, died early Saturday morning at Berkshire Medical Center. His wife, Charlene Grandson Martin, 45, is facing a murder charge in her husband's slaying.

Dr. Andrew Sexton, an associate medical examiner, conducted the autopsy on Arthur Martin on Sunday in Holyoke. The autopsy revealed that Martin bled to death as a result of a stab wound to his thigh, which cut the femoral artery.

Posted Feb. 7, 2009

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield woman has been charged with murder in connection with the apparent stabbing death of her husband last night.

Charlene Grandson Martin, 45, is being held in the Pittsfield Police lockup on $1 million bail pending arraignment Monday morning in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield. She is facing one count of murder in the apparent stabbing death of her 49-year-old husband, Arthur Martin.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless, in a statement released this morning, said the Pittsfield Police Department received a 911 call about 11:20 Friday evening reporting a stabbing at 341 West St., Building 40.

Police, fire and emergency medical technicians responded to the call.

Arthur Martin, a resident of that address, was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, suffering from an apparent stab wound. He was pronounced dead early Saturday morning. An autopsy will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke within the next several days.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department with assistance from the state police Crime Scene Services Section. Detectives Thomas Bowler and John Gray are the lead investigators on the case.

Anyone who has any information pertaining to this incident is asked to call the Pittsfield Police Department at 413-448-9700.

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holy crap i knew both of them. wow i cant believe it.
from:	on: 02-07-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

wow. i never thought something like this would happen. my prayers go out to Arthur and his family. I personally know his two sons and I just feel so bad for them. I can imagine what they are going through. You boys will make it through. I love you guys.
from:	on: 02-09-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

All Glory All Power goes to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may he have the Glory.My prayers to both of the families hope all work out for the kids sake.Love you Charlene and Arthur you will be truley missed.
from: Tijuana	on: 02-11-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

She's my aunt, and she loved arthur liked she loved her children.God will see her and her kids through this. There is noway, nohow that this was done purposly. Thats the father of her kids, her husband for better or worst. She wouldnt let me or anyone else hurt him, so I know this was not done intentially. NOT GUILTY!!! Im with you 100% in your heart and prayers
from: Shavon Grandson	on: 02-11-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

not guilty? not done on purpose? i think the dead man begs to differ
from:	on: 02-13-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Maybe she was a victim of Domestic Violence, and by stabbing him was self defense. There are many women who are victims of Domestic Violence and are in prison for self defense. I think the police should start investigate their relationship.
from:	on: 02-17-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

i know both of them i would travel all the way to MASS. and stand there and say not guilty keep yr head up charlene r.i.p. arthur to the kids stay strong look at there pictures there nothing but love there NOT GUILITY
from: brooklyn	on: 02-18-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

i knew their sons. and their family was so kind and generous. i hope everything will be ok.
from:	on: 02-28-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

i have been in charlene grandson family for 8 years i am her nephews girlfriend and since i been in the family charlene grandson and arthur have always been together they went everywhere together with there kids as well they was always happy and yes the two of them where for better or wrost so many years they been together aint no way charlene grandson would hurt arthur the love she has for arthur i cant even explain all i know she loved her husband and everybody that new the both of them can tell anyone how both of them was charlene and arthur was as one they loved there kids dont worry boys and ma god is by your side and everything is going to be fine and she is NOT GUILTY CHARLENE GRANDSON IS NOT GUILTY GOD IS BY UR SIDE CHARLENE GRANDSON AND EVERYDAY THAT GO BY I PRAYER FOR U NOT GUILTY NOT GUILTY
from: JESSICA (BROOKLYN)	on: 03-09-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

i also been in ms charlene's life with her family and i know for a fact hat she loved mr arthur and didnt really mean to kill him. if she say it was an acident then i believe her 200%.she would have never done such a thing to him on purpose and i believe that the doctors are behind this as well and could have done more to save him. i give ma condolences to messiyah,maliek,and sha sha. i love ya'll like family.
from: kaylag g	on: 03-10-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

aunt penny god is with you and you are in my heart R.I.P uncle arthur me miss you but we will never forget you..... MS CHARELNE GRANDSON IS NOT GULTY my aunt had so much love for my uncle that she would jump n da way if he ever had a problem with anyone i love you aunt penny and uncle arthur im always here with boogie and mommy and you knew we on your side this is for my cuzzoz sha~sha and her big brothers you know i love yous too and you know were we leave da doors are always open no matter what well ima say this one last time ( MY AUNT CHARLENE GRANDSON IS NOT GULTY SHES NOT GULTY ) well thiss yaa girl yesenia aka pookie and who ever dont think my aunt is not gulty excuse my languge but ( they can suck my ^!$& ) i love you fam im over but never out
from: yesenia palacios aka pookie ( brooklyn)	on: 03-11-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

To My Dear Friend Charlene Thank you for allowing me to become part of yoiur family during the time,I took cared of your mother. I must say Authur will surely be missed and it is unfortunate and the impact this is having on the families. I encourage you continue keeping your eye on the prize (GOD)and his will -will be done. I have to share with everyone who reads this post that there was so much love shared between those to people and that love showed down to their children. I seen the best and worst time that you and authur went through but ar the end of the day no one could not say love did not exist. I remember when you shared that you an Autgur was getting married, i was happy for the two of you, so please continue to pray and stay strong. GOD BLESS
from: Rozanne	on: 03-14-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Pittsfield: Should Park Square Be an Historic District?

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:48PM / Sunday, September 20, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The committee drafting a proposed local historic district around Park Square wants to generate interest and participation in the process.

Members launched the charge during meetings in August and September. A survey and public hearing are planned to gather feedback early on.

City Planner Kevin Rayner explained they are not just doing this out of a love for historic buildings, but for the timeless sense of place you get when you step into Park Square, which was laid out over 200 years ago and hosted the first-ever agricultural fair in 1810.

"I think that the main thing that we need to kind of park on is that this is the heart of our community, and it really sets the stage for the sense of place in Pittsfield, and any change to that should have some review and some consensus from folks who have a passion for protecting the history and that character of Pittsfield," he said to the new Local Historic District Study Committee last week.

"And there's that private property versus historic resource thing, but I’d say that a lot of these buildings on the square belong to the soul of Pittsfield here, and deserve to be protected, and I don't think that the layer of regulation that we're throwing down here is going to be unreasonable or a real boundary."

In March, the City Council voted to amend the City Code, Chapter 2, to establish the study committee.

Pittsfield has more than 20 locations on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Park Square Historical District, but the designation just allows communities to apply for federal tax credits and doesn't impose restrictions on buildings. The central area was laid out a few decades after Pittsfield was given a town charter in 1761.

A district can be one building, several buildings, or an area. Historic restrictions only apply to the exterior of buildings; the committee has authority to say a building in the district cannot be demolished.