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Sunday, may 18

Josh Lanier

Assistant Managing Editor

jlanier@dailyvoice.com

Josh Lanier started his reporting career in high school for his local newspaper. Many — many — years later, he’s still chasing leads for compelling stories. During his time writing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications, he’s covered everything from murderers to mommy bloggers, but his most interesting story is always the next one.

Josh Lanier's Contributions

Police & Fire

Woman Killed, Man Seriously Injured In Early-Morning Eastern Mass Crash A 60-year-old woman was killed early Saturday morning, Aug. 5, in a Norfolk County wreck that also seriously injured her passenger, authorities said. The woman was behind the wheel of a 2015 Lexus SUV that collided with a 2020 Jeep SUV in Weymouth on Route 3 near Exit 38 just after 5 a.m., state police said. Troopers are investigating the cause of the crash. The 60-year-old woman died at the scene. Paramedics rushed her 34-year-old male passenger to an area hospital with severe injuries, police said. Authorities have not released their names. The Jeep driver was also…

08/05/2023

Police & Fire

Man Guilty Of Killing Innocent Woman Outside Lowell Apartment In 2020: DA A 23-year-old man accused of killing a woman who wanted to buy a used car from him was found guilty this week of her slaying, authorities said. Xavier DeJesus, of Lowell, was convicted earlier this week of second-degree murder and four firearm charges, including carrying a firearm without a license, possessing ammunition without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said. Deija Mendez, 23, of Boston, went to Lowell on June 23, 2020, to buy a used BMW from De…

08/05/2023

Police & Fire

Woman Accused Of Stabbing Boyfriend To Death In Western Mass Charged With Murder A 23-year-old Hampshire County woman who police say stabbed her boyfriend five times during a fight at their home will return to court next week. Jean Marie Echevarria, of Easthampton, who is charged with murder in the killing of Brennan Bleau, 23, was indicted on July 20, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. She will be arraigned on Wednesday, Aug. 9. She previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Investigators said Echevarria stabbed Bleau multiple times on March 14 at the Culdaff Street apartment they shared in Easthampton. When poli…

08/04/2023

Police & Fire

Grill Fire Guts Home In Western Mass, Injures 2, Leave 6 Homeless Fire investigators say a two-alarm Hampden County blaze on Thursday, Aug. 3, started on a grill on a home's back porch. The fire began just before 4 p.m. on Wilbraham Street in Palmer as a family was cooking dinner on their outside grill, the Palmer Fire Department said. The blaze quickly got out of control and spread to the home before crews could get there and battle the flames back. The fire injured two people and displaced a family of six. Palmer Fire Department Firefighters from Palmer responded with crews from Three Rivers, Bondsville, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Ware, Belchertown, Monso…

08/04/2023

News

More Mosquitos With West Nile Virus Found In Western Mass: Health Officials Massachusetts health officials have urged caution after more mosquitoes tested positive for the potentially fatal West Nile Virus in Hampshire County. This adds to the number of infected insects already found in West Springfield, Worcester, and Brookline. The Massachusetts Health Department announced this week that testers had detected the virus in Hadley and South Hadley on July 28. The risk of exposure remains low for most people, but residents should take steps to prevent contracting West Nile Virus. Young children and the elderly are especially at risk of severe complications if th…

08/04/2023

News

Rare Endangered Plant Found Growing In Western Mass For First Time Botanists rejoice. A plant that has never been seen in Massachusetts before was spotted growing in Berkshire County. Meet the pine-drops plant. Amateur botanist Syke van der Laan discovered while hiking in the Berkshires recently. He wasn't sure what it was but realized its significance and alerted the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, who were thrilled at the find. “The discovery of a new native plant here in Massachusetts is extraordinary,” said MassWildlife’s State Botanist Robert Wernerehl. “We have more active professional botanists per square mil…

08/04/2023

Police & Fire

Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For, Including MD Stores: Feds A Connecticut man is accused of ripping off nearly $300,000 from more than two dozen Home Depot stores across eight states, including Maryland, authorities said. Henrique Costa-Mota, age 26, of West Hartford, is charged with conspiracy and wire fraud in the scheme that he allegedly ran from June 2021 until February 202, the US Attorney for Rhode Island said. Costa-Mota is accused of going to Home Depot locations across the Northeast dressed as a contractor. He would walk in empty-handed, take several doors from the back of the store, and then "return" them to a customer service …

08/03/2023

Police & Fire

Police Officers Crash Into Each Other Responding To Call In Eastern Mass Two Middlesex County police officers were taken to area hospitals Thursday, Aug. 5, after crashing into one other. Wilmington police were responding to a call when the cruisers crashed just after noon at the intersection of High Street and Linda Road, authorities said. Both cruisers were marked. Initial investigation shows that one officer slammed into the rear end of the other's cruiser. The incident remains under investigation. Both officers sustained minor injuries in the crash and were taken for treatment in an ambulance, Wilmington police said. Wilmington poli…

08/03/2023

Police & Fire

Driving On Sidewalk Leads To Multiple Felonies In Worcester A traffic stop for minor traffic violations led to multiple major felonies in Worcester on Wednesday, Aug. 2, authorities said. Miguel Romero-Rivera was pulled over on Millbury Street just before 6:45 p.m. after officers spotted him riding a motorcycle without a helmet or license plate, and he was driving on the sidewalk, Worcester police said. But as they went to stop him, Romero-Rivera put his hands in his pockets and tried to walk away. Officers decided to put him in handcuffs for fear he may have a weapon, but Romero-Rivera tried to fight his way free, police said.…

08/03/2023

Police & Fire

CT Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For: Feds A Connecticut man is accused of ripping off nearly $300,000 from more than two dozen Home Depot stores across eight states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, authorities said. Henrique Costa-Mota, age 26, of West Hartford, is charged with conspiracy and wire fraud in the scheme that he allegedly ran from June 2021 until February 202, the US Attorney for Rhode Island said. Costa-Mota is accused of going to Home Depot locations across the Northeast dressed as a contractor. He would walk in empty-handed, take several doors from the back of the store, and then "return" them t…

08/03/2023

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