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Sunday, may 4

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

Fatal Fire: Man Succumbs To Injuries In Western Mass Blaze A man severely injured in a Saturday, March 4, fire in Hampden County has died of his injuries, the state Fire Marshal's Office announced on Monday. The fire was reported around 6 a.m. at a detached shed at 901 Main St. in Agawam, officials said. Firefighters were quick to the scene and got the blaze under control soon after. Unfortunately, one man was critically injured, and another was less seriously hurt. Authorities did not release their names. The man who was critically injured died Sunday. Related: Two People Injured In Agawam Shed Fire A man injured in a Saturday …

03/06/2023

Obituaries

Former Central Mass Asst Principal, Harvard Grad Dies From Medical Emergency While On Vacation A 74-year-old former Worcester Public Schools teacher and administrator died last week after suffering a medical emergency while on vacation in Mexico, a fundraiser said. John McFadden, of Paxton, died Friday, March 3, after being airlifted from Cancun to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, his family wrote in a GoFundMe. They wrote McFadden suffered a stroke and took a hard fall, causing a traumatic brain injury. He underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. They wrote he died surrounded by his family after returning to the United States. The …

03/06/2023

Police & Fire

Cold Case: Police ID CT Woman 45 Years After Body Was Found For nearly 45 years, police in Massachusetts only knew the body of a woman found shot in a wooded area in the Hampshire County town of Granby simply as the "Granby Girl." They now know the Connecticut resident's name, but who killed the 28-year-old and left her out there remains a mystery. Patricia Ann Tucker was identified as the "Granby Girl" at a press conference on Monday, March 6. Northwestern Massachusetts First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne announced the findings with some of Tucker's family in attendance. Gagne said investigators IDed the 28-year-old…

03/06/2023

Police & Fire

Human Smuggling Ring: Mexican Nationals Extorted Workers They Smuggled Into CT, Feds Say Two Mexican citizens smuggled several people to Connecticut for tens of thousands of dollars, and once they reached the state, the victims were extorted and forced to work off an impossible debt, federal authorities said. Maria Del Carmen Sanchez, age 69, and Apolinar Francisco Paredes Espinoza (aka "Pancho"), age 56, helped illegally bring 10 people from Mexico to Hartford beginning in September, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. Federal investigators arrested them on Wednesday, March 1. Sanchez and Paredes charged each person between $15,000 and $20,000, a debt they would …

03/05/2023

Police & Fire

One Person Injured In Western Mass Car Crash: Firefighters One person was sent to the hospital following a car crash in Hampden County earlier this week, authorities said. The wreck was reported around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, near the intersection of Hampshire and Maple streets in Holyoke, firefighters said. The vehicle rolled onto its roof and needed to be stabilized before crews could remove the injured to get them help. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. It's unclear if anyone else was inside the car when it crashed. The Holyoke Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash.

03/04/2023

Police & Fire

Drug Trafficking Ring: Man Admits To Bringing Cocaine Into Central Mass; 15th Person Convicted A 31-year-old Worcester County man admitted this week in a federal court to being part of a large-scale drug trafficking network, authorities said. Jonathan Villot, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine), and 500 grams or more of cocaine, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Police began investigating a potential drug trafficking ring in central Massachusetts in September 2018 following a fentanyl overdose death in Fitchburg, officials said. …

03/04/2023

Police & Fire

Stray Bullet Hits Western Mass Home: Crime-Fighting Tech Tool Led To Bust, Police Say A Hampden County woman called police earlier this week after she said someone fired a bullet through her bedroom window in the middle of the night, authorities said. Dereck Carattini, 20, was arrested and charged following the Friday, March 3, shooting, Holyoke officials said. But investigators said the bust was thanks to a piece of technology that's becoming a valuable tool for police departments. ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection network that uses sound-surveillance devices to pinpoint the area where a gun was fired, alerted Holyoke police officers to two potential shots a…

03/04/2023

Police & Fire

One Person Critical, Another Hurt In Western Mass Fire: Fire Department An early morning fire in Hampden County sent two people to the hospital — one with critical injuries, authorities said. The fire was reported just after 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, in a shed at 901 Main Street in Agawam, the Agawam Fire Department said. The building was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Crews quickly put it out, but two civilians were hurt in the blaze. Paramedics rushed them both to Baystate Medical Center. One was in critical condition, and the other suffered minor injuries and was listed in stable condition. Massachusetts State …

03/04/2023

Weather

Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather As heavy snows bear down on most of the Northeast Friday, March 3, several towns in western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans. Related: Updated Snow Fall Predictions For The Northeast Here is a collection of some of those bans. Violators may have their vehicles towed and ticketed. AGAWAM No parking is allowed from 12 a.m. Saturday, March 4 until 12 p.m. Saturday, March 4. AMHERST A parking ban on all town streets and lots begins at 12 a.m. Saturday and remains in effect until 7 a.m. However, parking is allowed in three areas. The lower level of the parking …

03/03/2023

Police & Fire

Sutton Man Admits To Child Porn Charge, Faces Decades In Prison A 47-year-old Worcester County man admitted this week to having child pornography that investigators found in his home in 2020, authorities said. Oliver Smith, of Sutton, faces up to 20 years in prison following his Wednesday, March 1, plea and a potential lifetime of supervised release, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He may also be ordered to pay as much as $250,000 in fines. Investigators raided Smith's home in November 2020 after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A forensic examination of several of his devices an…

03/03/2023

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