Egremont Man Died From Self-Immolation

03:24PM / Thursday, January 19, 2023Print Story | Email Story

EGREMONT, Mass. — Officials have determined that an Egremont man died from intentionally setting himself on fire, according to a press release from the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.

Brian Levy-Sadhana was found severely burned at the scene of a chicken coop fire on Wednesday morning. He later succumbed to his injuries.

The Fire Department responded to a call made by a passer-by about a chicken coop fire at about 7:40 a.m. Wednesday on Mount Washington Road.

The State Police Detective Unit attached to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office found no detectable evidence of foul play by third parties. A K9 unit alerted to numerous items near the chicken coop for ignitable liquid accelerant, which officials said confirmed the self-immolation conclusion.

Detectives were assisted in the investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office and Egremont Police Chief Jason LaForest.

"This is a terrible tragedy. Our office gives its heartfelt condolences to Mr. Levy-Sadhana's wife, daughter, grandson, and family," said DA Timothy Shugrue in a statement.

Tags: fire,

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Colombian Artist Celebrates Immigrant Stories in New Pittsfield Mural

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:49AM / Saturday, October 24, 2026

Artist Laura Barrios explains the inspiration of the mural, of immigrants building new lives in the Berkshires.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The walls along the Intermodal Center's train platform are a little more colorful following the unveiling of Let It Shine's third mural at that location, transforming a space once surrounded by bare concrete into a vibrant display of public art.

The unveiling on Thursday, marks the close of Let It Shine's 2026 outdoor public art season and the third year of its emerging artist program, said Mill Town Foundation Program Director Andy Wrba.

Let It Shine's Emerging Artists Mentorship program was established in 2024 to support aspiring artists in the community by providing guidance, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to create large-scale public art.

"This mural, along with all the murals, as part of this emerging artist program, and even more broadly, all the murals that you see downtown throughout Pittsfield shows that we care about the cultural scene and we care about the creative people that live and work in our city," Wrba said.

The new mural, painted by Colombian artist Laura Barrios, celebrates immigrants who have built lives and found a sense of home in Berkshire County.

Barrios has been working on the piece for the last two months alongside mentor artist, Jesse Tobin McCauley.

"It's a homage to the immigrants who work and make a home in the Berkshires … this is a very personal experience too because I am an immigrant," Barrios said in her speech.

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