Jillian Tatro's Killer Guilty of First-Degree Murder

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Jillian Tatro
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A Berkshire County jury on Tuesday returned a verdict of guilty in the murder of Jillian Tatro four years ago. 
 
Luis Rosado, 53, was found guilty of murder in the first degree with extreme atrocity for stabbing his 38-year-old wife to death in an apartment they shared at 46 Charles St. on May 28, 2022.
 
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
 
In a statement, Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said his thoughts were with Tatro's family and that her son "demonstrated tremendous poise and courage during his testimony in the trial."
 
"Ms. Tatro was a victim of domestic violence. The most dangerous time in a victim of domestic violence life is when they are prepared to leave," he said. "We know that Jillian was planning to leave on the Tuesday following her murder. Her death is a tragic example of lethal consequence of domestic violence and the lasting impact these crimes have on families and communities."
 
He and Tatro had been married five months and during that time, Tatro had sought a restraining order against her husband.
 
Rosado had been convicted of domestic violence on another individual in October 2020. At the time, he was charged with three counts of assault and battery on a household member, strangulation and larceny and was sentenced to a minimum of a year in the Berkshire County House of Corrections.
 
On Sunday, May 29, 2022, Tatro's son found her body in the apartment. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that she had been stabbed 10 times, slashed six times, and suffered blunt trauma to her head.
 
Using evidence collected from the scene, cell phone extractions, and witness interviews, law enforcement determined that Rosado murdered Tatro between 10:15 p.m. (when their downstairs neighbor heard them) and 10:42 p.m. (when Rosado left the apartment, telling her son Tatro wasn't home) on May 28. 
 
The investigation also revealed that domestic violence was a longstanding factor in Rosado and Tatro's relationship.
 
Rosado went on trial for murder this past week in Pittsfield and was found guilty by a Berkshire Superior Court jury. 
 
The conviction was first announced on Tuesday morning by Shugrue at the arraignment of David L. Boucher, who is charged with murder in the death of his father. 
 
"While we were waiting here this morning, [a jury] returned a verdict of guilty in the first degree, cruel and atrocious behavior. So I don't know when the sentence will be. I don't know whether it will be life without parole," he said. "Obviously, I really want to congratulate the North Adams Police Department and all the departments of law enforcement that worked hard on this case."
 
Assistant District Attorney Joseph Yorlano tried the case and Shugrue said he was exceptional, along with Assistant District Attorney Amy Winston.
 
"We have a very good team that worked really hard on this case, and it was an important case. This woman, additionally, was brutally stabbed multiple times," he said. "She died a horrific, awful death, and that's why cruel and atrocious behavior led to a first-degree conviction."

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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