Pittsfield Woman Charged with Husband's Murder

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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.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking

Staff reports

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —  A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court for conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts. 

Theodore Warren, also known as "Monty," 42, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 

This carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Oct. 20. 

In December 2024, Warren was charged with alleged co-conspirator Lavante Wiggins, a former dean at Pittsfield High School. Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or resurfaced at the end of 2024 after the arrest. 

This drew national media attention. 

According to the charging documents, Wiggins allegedly operated a drug-trafficking organization that distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around the Pittsfield area. Warren is said to have been a "runner."

"Warren was a trusted member of the DTO [drug-trafficking operation] who served as a runner for Wiggins. According to the charging documents, in August 2024, Wiggins expressed concern that he was under investigation and that he would send Warren to complete drug sales and deliver cocaine on his behalf," the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote in a press release on Tuesday. 

"It is alleged that one of Wiggins' customers amassed a debt of more than $34,000 for cocaine that Wiggins provided on credit. Warren and, allegedly, Wiggins went about collecting on that debt while continuing to supply large amounts of cocaine to the customer." 

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