image description — The Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force vehicle parked in front of 175 Middle Road on Wednesday. Law enforcement was at the home until late Wednesday evening.

State Police Arrest Suspect In Clarksburg Homicide

Staff Reports09:10PM / Thursday, February 24, 2022Print Story | Email Story

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The victim of the incident on Wednesday has been identified as Dennis Bernardi and a 36-year-old Clarksburg man has been arrested in his murder.

William Gingerich was arrested by Lewiston, N.Y., Police on a warrant secured by the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.

Clarksburg and North Adams Police responded to 175 Middle Road on Wednesday for a wellness check and discovered the body of the house's owner, 71-year-old Dennis Bernardi.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of the body and made a preliminary determination that the manner of death is homicide.

The State Police and the District Attorney's Office are now seeking to transport Gingerich back to Massachusetts for an arraignment in Northern Berkshire District Court on single counts of murder and kidnapping.

The District Attorney's Office provided no further information. State Police and the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department had officers at the house, a single-family home apparent undergoing renovations, well into the evening on Wednesday.

Bernardi purchased the house in 2019.

"I send my heartfelt condolences to the Bernardi family and wish them the best in this difficult time, and I thank State Police, Clarksburg Police, and North Adams Police for their investigation into this tragedy," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.

Update at 7:50 p.m.: The district attorney's office could not give a timeline on when information would be released so we cannot confirm some details we have. This article will be updated as soon more information is made available.

Original post 3:27, Feb. 23, 2022:

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Local and state police were investigating an incident at a Middle Road home on Wednesday.

The Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force vehicle was parked in front of 175 Middle Road; the medical examiner's vehicle was reportedly at the scene earlier.

Officers at the scene referred questions to the district attorney's office. iBerkshires has reached out and is waiting for a reply.

The house is a single-family home owned by Dennis Bernardi, according to documents on file with the Registry of Deeds.

Story developing ...

Tags: murder,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

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

Weekend Outlook: Lenox Apple Squeeze and More

12:18PM / Thursday, September 24, 2026

It might look to be a rainy first weekend of fall, but there's plenty to do around the Berkshires.

Editor's Pick

Lenox Apple Squeeze
Downtown Lenox
Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The 45th edition of Lenox's signature fall festival features more than 100 artisan and food vendors, live music, family activities, and a full street fair experience in downtown Lenox.

The festival is free to attend and will include a day of family fun with music, food and a kids carnival, as well as musical performances throughout downtown.

More information here.

Multiple Days

Eastern States Exposition
West Springfield
Through Oct. 4

The Big E is the region's biggest fair with live entertainment, a midway, circus, exhibits, parades, booths, food, agricultural competitions, and presentations by each of the New England states.

Tickets and information here.

North Adams Library Book Sale

St. Elizabeth's Parish Hall

Friday 9 to 4, Saturday 9 to 3

Stock up on reading material for the winter: Books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles, games, and baked goods. Proceeds benefit the public library.

Friday

Fall Migration for Beginning Birders
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
7-8:30 a.m.

This beginner-friendly walk focuses on bird-finding tips, simple identification cues, and observing bird behavior. The Pike's Pond Loop — a mostly flat trail with accessible features — offers a beautiful scenic view of both the pond and Yokun Ridge in the distance.

Registration and information here.

American Stories Curator Talks: Service and Sacrifice
Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
9:30 a.m.

Chief Curator Stephanie Haboush Plunkett will describe how during times of war artists and illustrators have worked as reporters, makers of propaganda, and mythmakers. This session will consider the ethical responsibilities of artists, including Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker, involved in wartime image production and will pose questions about memory, accountability, and the relevance of wartime imagery in our society.

Tickets and information here.

What's The Tea @ WCMA
Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown
4-5:30 p.m.

Stop by the museum between 4 and 5:30 to learn about what's happening at WCMA this year. Start off in the lounge with a cup of tea before heading into the galleries for a peek at Object Lab, where you will see works of art classes will be studying this fall. Then make your way upstairs to get a behind-the-scenes look of how the museum is preparing for its new home, opening in 2027. Free and open to all.

More information here.

'Be Good!' with Paulette
The Foundry, West Stockbridge
7:30 p.m.

Hot off of an international tour, certified clown Daniel Maseda brings well-mannered idiot Paulette to the Berkshires for the very second time with this fan-favorite show that never plays out the same way twice. A good night for anyone who wants to scream at a polite person.

Tickets and information here.

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
6 p.m.

More information here.

Saturday

Harvest Run and Community Fun 2026

View Full Story