Windsor Man Facing Murder Charge

02:01PM / Friday, November 01, 2024Print Story | Email Story

WINDSOR, Mass. — A Windsor man has been charged with murder in the death of his sister on Thursday.

Paul Menard, 65, was arraigned Friday in Central Berkshire District Court on one count of murder in the first degree. He was held without the right to bail, without prejudice.

Menard walked into the State Police Barracks in Cheshire at about 1:45 p.m. on Thursday and told police he shot and killed his sister at his Crane Road home, according to a statement from the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. Responding troopers found the the body of Monique Menard, 62, of Hinsdale, laying face-down between the defendant's home and detached garage with gunshot injuries to her back and stomach.

Her body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.

Based on evidence collected at the scene, corroborated with the defendant's testimony, the Menard shot the victim three times: once in her front, once in her back, and once in the back of her head, According to the DA's office. He reported using two black powder firearms. He waited 20 minutes prior to driving to the Cheshire Barracks to report the alleged murder and did not call 911.

Menard has been cooperative with police. He does not have an firearm's identification card.

The Menards had been reportedly arguing about the care of their ill father when Paul Menard shot is sister. Their mother died in 2022; they have two other brothers.

Tags: murder,

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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