image description
Authorities were at the scene until late Thursday investigating the death of Doris Cote.

North Adams Woman Arrested in Grandmother's Murder

Print Story | Email Story
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— A 26-year-old city woman has been arrested in the murder of grandmother. 
 
Police arrested Kelsie Cote on Friday evening in the death of 74-year-old Doris Cote of Church Street.
 
Authorities had initially described the incident as an "unattended death" but had declined to provide further information. Police had been at Cote's home Wednesday and Thursday, finally leaving late Thursday afternoon.
 
It had been rumored Cote's body had been found by a granddaughter. 
 
Kelsie Cote is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Northern Berkshire District Court on charges of murder, assault with intent to murder, and destruction of evidence.
 
According to the District Attorney's Office, North Adams Police responded to a 911 call on Tuesday from a relative of Doris Cote reporting finding her deceased inside her Church Street home, where Cote had lived with her late husband for nearly 50 years. Her husband, Ray, died in February.
 
The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney's Office and the North Adams Police established probable cause that Kelsie Cote murdered her grandmother on the evening of Oct. 31 and attempted to destroy evidence of the crime. 
 
"I send my heartfelt condolences to Doris Cote's family and friends for their tragic loss, and I thank the North Adams Police and the Massachusetts State Police for their work on this investigation," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.
 
Additionally, the State Police Crime Scene Services, State Police chemists, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner responded to the scene.

Tags: murder,   

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

North Adams Police Charge 7 After Drug Investigation

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police charged seven people after executing simultaneous search warrants on Eagle Street and Arnold Place.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, members of the North Adams Police Department Detective Unit and Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3 and 59 Arnold Place.

According to police, the search warrants were the result of a month-long investigation into a group of people from Springfield utilizing both residences as part of their heroin and cocaine distribution operation.

Police reported that during the search warrant execution at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3, Giovanni Ramirez was taken into custody. Joanne Bentley and Chad Luczynski were also located in the apartment and will be charged as part of this investigation.

During the search warrant execution at 59 Arnold Place, Sandra Bunt, Raven Vanderburg, Jaiden Langford-Andrews and Angel Ortiz were all taken into custody.

Bunt's bail was revoked on a separate open case, and she is held without bail. Vanderburg is being held without bail for a probation violation on a separate case.

Langford-Andrews, Ortiz and Ramirez were all held without bail pending dangerousness hearings scheduled for later this week and early next week.

As a result of the investigation, the following evidence was seized:

  • Approximately 110 grams of cocaine
  • Approximately 2,323 bags of heroin (46 grams)
  • Approximately $6,817 U.S. Currency
  • Multiple functioning digital scales with residue

The following people were arrested and charged with the following:

Jaiden Langford-Andrews of Springfield:

  • Arrest Warrant
  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

Angel Ortiz, of Springfield:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy
  • Giovanni Ramirez, of Springfield, Massachusetts:
  • Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 grams
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin
  • Conspiracy

Sandra Bunt, of North Adams:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

Raven Vanderburg, of North Adams:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

The following people were charged but not taken into custody:

Joanne Bentley of North Adams:

View Full Story

More North Adams Stories