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Wednesday, apr 30

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

Man Gunned Down In South End Springfield A man was shot and killed Thursday morning, Aug. 10, in Springfield's South End, authorities said. Police were called to the 500 block of E. Columbus Avenue to reports of gunshots just after 1:30 a.m., Springfield police said. Officers found a man suffering from a bullet wound and provided aid until paramedics arrived. Responders rushed him to Baystate Medical Center, where he died of his wounds, police said. Authorities did not release the man's name. Springfield police are investigating the killing. Officers ask anyone with information to contact detectives at&nb…

08/10/2023

Police & Fire

Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police Several Jewish residents in Worcester County have started receiving strange items on their front door steps: bags of rice with anti-semitic fliers hidden inside. Sadly, this is not uncommon, as bags like these have shown up across the country for years, according to news reports. The West Brookfield Police Department posted about the incidents on Facebook and said they are investigating their origins, but they believe they have a suspect in the case. They did not disclose what the flyers in the bag said. On August 8, 2023, we received reports from individuals within our community who rec…

08/09/2023

Police & Fire

Western Mass Coach Secretly Filmed Gymnasts In Vermont Bathroom: Police A Berkshire County gymnastics coach was arrested and charged with filming athletes in the bathroom of a gymnastics center in Vermont. Jonathan Girard, 39, of North Adams, was a visiting instructor at the Central Vermont Gymnastics Academy in Waterbury, Vermont, last month when the alleged recordings took place from July 10 through July 14, Vermont State Police said. Girard owns and is the head coach at J Star Gymnastics in North Adams. Vermont troopers received a copy of one of the videos on July 15 and began an investigation. They reached out to North Adams police, who i…

08/09/2023

Police & Fire

Mass Man Took An Uber To Deliver 20 Pounds Of Drugs To New Hampshire: Feds A Massachusetts man decided to make an Uber driver an unwitting accomplice in delivering 20 pounds of fentanyl to New Hampshire last year. Johan M. Rodriguez, age 37, of Lawrence, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in March, was sentenced to five years in federal prison Tuesday, Aug. 8, the US Attorney for New Hampshire said. Rodriguez requested an Uber on Sep. 26 to catch a ride from Massachusetts to Dover, New Hampshire. He carried with him a toolbox filled with 20 pounds of fentanyl, the synthetic and sometimes fatal opioid, investigators said. Pol…

08/09/2023

Police & Fire

Teen Carjacks Uber At Gunpoint In Western Mass But Doesn't Make It Far: Police A 17-year-old decided to outsource part of the carjacking process last week in Springfield when he called the car to come to him, but his plan didn't go as he'd hoped, authorities said. The teen ordered an Uber on Friday, Aug. 4, just after 2 p.m. to pick him up on Locust Street, Springfield police said. When the car arrived, the kid pulled a gun on the driver and ordered him to get out. The teen, despite being barely old enough to have a driver's license, hopped in the driver's seat and sped away. Police spotted the stolen Uber near Boston Road and tried to pull it over, …

08/09/2023

Obituaries

Police Say Goodbye To Beloved K9 After 7 Years Of Service In Western Mass Kai served the citizens of Hampden County with distinction for seven years, but now his watch has ended. The long-serving Longmeadow police K9 died Tuesday, Aug. 8, after a brief battle with cancer. Kai's handler and best friend, Sgt. VanBuskirk, was at his side when he died, as Kai was by the officer's side in life. Kai joined the Longmeadow Police Department in 2015 and earned several commendations for meritorious service, from capturing criminals to helping locate lost children. He retired in 2023 to live out his days with VanBuskirk. Longmeadow police added …

08/09/2023

Police & Fire

Estranged Husband Killed Wife As She Sat In Her Car In Everett Driveway: Jury A 58-year-old Peabody man was convicted Tuesday, Aug. 8, of gunning down his estranged wife a month after she requested a divorce in 2018, authorities announced. Emilio Matarazzo was found guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo following a 16-day trial in Middlesex County, the Middlesex District Attorney said. A judge will sentence him on Thursday. Ersilia was sitting in her car in her parents' driveway in Everett on the morning of Dec. 19, 2018, when her soon-to-be ex-husband ambushed her and shot her in the chest with a Beretta .12-gauge…

08/08/2023

Police & Fire

Wanted Kidnapper Busted After Caught Speeding In Western Mass: Police If you're a wanted man, it pays to obey the speed limit. At least, that's what a convicted kidnapper wanted for a parole violation in Berkshire County found out this week. Arthur Jones III was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 6, following a routine traffic stop in Hinsdale, Hinsdale police said. The officer pulled Jones over for speeding just after 4 p.m. and realized he had an active warrant for his arrest, authorities said. The vehicle was also unregistered and had incorrect registration plates. Jones was convicted in 2014 of kidnapping, assaulting, and robbing his boss at the&n…

08/08/2023

Police & Fire

Victims Hid As Man Broke Into Springfield Home, Pointed Gun At Them: Police A 47-year-old Springfield man didn't make it very far with the item police say he stole during a home invasion over the weekend. Edwin Rolon is accused of breaking into a Fremont Street apartment on Saturday morning, Aug. 5, and pointing a gun at the people inside, Springfield police said. The victims said they hid in a closet as he went through their house stealing cash and riding away on a bike. A few hours later around noon, police spotted a man who matched Rolon's description on city cameras in the 600 block of Main Street, where officers arrested him, authorities said…

08/08/2023

News

$1M Central Mass Lottery Winner On Her Way To Car Dealership A Worcester County woman who won $1 million in a scratch-off lottery said she knows exactly what she will buy with some of her winnings. Michelle McGrath, of Millbury, won the seven-figure sum in the “$5,000,000 100X Cashword” in the Massachusetts State Lottery. Related: Mechanic Returns To Work After Claiming $1 Million Lottery Prize McGrath, who claimed the prize at the Dorchester lottery offices with her husband Patrick, said she plans to buy two new cars with the money. McGrath opted to take the one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes, which should buy …

08/08/2023

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