Preventable Tragedies Tracker (Courtesy of the National Shattering Silence Coalition): A Log of Systemic Failure

 

145 Tragedies. 74 Lives Lost.

 

One Broken System.

 

The Evidence: The following log documents a recurring pattern of tragedies across Massachusetts where the "Standard of Neglect" has replaced medical accountability. These cases represent the high human cost of the 911 Gap, where individuals with known histories of Severe Mental Illness (SMI) cycle through ERs and jails without receiving stabilized care.

 

2026 TRAGEDIES

April 24 | Janette MacAusland (49), Wellesley showed up at her aunt's house in ● Vermont hysterical and covered in blood. She reported she killed her two young children and tried
to take her own life but did not succeed. Reports indicate she had previously been hospitalized for self-harm.
● April 23 | In West Springfield, police responded to a domestic disturbance involving a man armed with multiple kitchen knives. According to reports, officers made several attempts to de-escalate the situation. When the individual became combative while still armed, police discharged their weapons, resulting in his death.
● April 22 | Jeffrey MacDonald (36), Wilbraham, was seen behaving erratically hours before the alleged murder of his wife. MacDonald was a UMass chef who had previously won a culinary award.
● April 21 | Jeffrey Powers (47), Taunton was arrested and charged with attempted murder after setting his families home on fire. He is expected to return to court for a psychological evaluation.
● April 21 | An unidentified man was arrested in Chelsea after making threats towards a school bus dropping off children at a daycare. The suspect was wielding two knives. He was taken to MGH for an evaluation.
● April 19 | Colin Barthelemy (26), Lexington: Fatal police encounter after suspect charged at police officer with a knife. Family had called seeking medical assistance reporting that son had injured himself with a large kitchen knife. Known to police.
● April 11 | Stephenson King (39), Dorchester: Fatal police encounter following unarmed carjacking. Family sought help for intense paranoia; King requested an ambulance hours before death.
● April 4 | Jacob Graves (29), Boston: Fatal police encounter at Northeastern. Victim called 911 reporting delusional paranoia; allegedly stabbed officer during crisis.
● March 31 | Devin Dube (29), Hudson: Charged with murder of grandmother. Sister reported active "schizophrenic episode" prior to attack.
● March 24 | Unidentified Suspect, Plymouth: Hostage situation with butcher knife and children. Required tactical de-escalation; ordered for mental health evaluation.
● March 24 | Kenneth Beltrame (67), Sandwich: Charged with murder of sister. History of anxiety/depression; sent for psychiatric evaluation.
● March 23 | Zachary Beaudet (22), Westminster: Fatal police encounter. Mother reported seeking help at ER previously but being turned away.
● March 20 | Micah Martin (29), Boston: Threatened commuters with butcher knife at Forest Hills. Charged criminally rather than stabilized clinically.
● March 11 | Anthony DeMayo (18), Lynn: Random stabbing murder. Police observed erratic behavior/bloody knife; ordered for psychiatric evaluation post-tragedy.
● Jan 21 | Unidentified Resident (36), Canton: Police station crisis with air-soft gun. Tased by officers; incident classified as mental health crisis.
● Jan 19 | Robert McCluskey (58), Shrewsbury: "Suicide by cop" attempt at police station. Records show similar interactions in 2019 without intervention.
● Jan 16 | Franklin Cederholm (39), Abington: Attempted to burn police cruiser. Known to police and in active crisis; tactical rather than clinical response.
● Jan 12 | Paul O’Brien (29), Stoughton: Attempted to stab parents. Family sought proper treatment unsuccessfully for years.
● Jan 13 | Unidentified Male, Mass Pike: Found hanging from back of truck on highway. Transported for evaluation after life-threatening public crisis.
● Jan 7 | Biagion Kauvil (27), Hinsdale: Fatal police encounter during wellness check. Expressed delusional thoughts and fired at officers before being struck.
● Jan 3 | William Haney (42), Boston: Intentionally ran down man/dog with car. History of schizophrenia; attorney noted medication change prior to crisis.
● Jan 5 | Barry Howze (55), Boston: Alleged ER rape. Documented schizophrenia and lengthy violent history; lack of secure clinical oversight.

 

2025 TRAGEDIES
● Dec 29 | Anthony Nunez-Romano (26), Methuen: Alleged matricide. Diagnosed with schizophrenia/autism; mother expressed fear for her safety prior.
● Dec 26 | James Marsh (64), Leominster: Barricade situation/wife found dead. Neighbors reported evident need for psychiatric help prior to incident.
● Dec 20 | Unidentified Male, Springfield: Fatal police encounter. Brandishing knife while experiencing acute mental health crisis.
● Nov 24 | Darius Hazard (44), North Adams: Admitted to killing parents/arson. Had been on active psychiatric hold (Section 12) less than 30 days prior.
● Oct 31 | Leonard Mercury (57), Gardner: Escaped hospital roof during evaluation. Family highlighted difficulty of seeking help for unmedicated loved one.
● Oct 21 | Christopher Baez (36), Boston: Random stabbing at South Bay. Swung box cutter at officers; sent for competency evaluation.
● Oct 20 | Coree Gonzales (31), Fall River: Stabbed former Mayor. Suffered from illness since age 15; history of threatening family members.
● Oct 14 | Marie Molea-Anthony, Boston: Former nurse with SMI found dead on streets. Family spent 20 years unsuccessfully trying to secure treatment.
● Oct 12 | Unidentified Male, Hamilton: Bomb threat at Topsfield Fair.
"Emotionally disturbed"; no explosives found; transported for evaluation.
● Sept 24 | Akash Kushwaha (26), Boston: Shot/wounded by police while naked and wielding knife in Beacon Hill. Described as "severely disturbed" despite probation.
● Aug 28 | Snehal A. Srivastava (26), Shrewsbury: Fatal shooting. Well known to police; history of non-compliance and three previous competency evaluations.
● Aug 5 | Eric Vargas (37), East Boston: Attacked bystander with hammer. History of schizophrenia and off medication; father cited lack of accountability.
● Aug 5 | Unidentified Subject, Worcester: Domestic incident on Fremont Street escalated into a police standoff involving a mental health crisis.
● Aug 1 | Priciano Faustin (51), Cambridge: 18-hour standoff after attacking bystander with machetes. Resolved only after tactical/clinical intervention.
● July 31 | Admilson Vizcaino (33), Malden: Shot by police after stealing garbage truck. Refused to drop knife; had been acting erratically earlier that day.
● July 23 | Katie Mearn (40), Boston: Unhoused individual with active warrants arrested for breaking into apartment to eat and bathe.
● July 15 | Unidentified Male, Fall River: Naked man running through streets with tree branch; taken for clinical evaluation.
● July 15 | Domonick Knight (38), Fall River: Killed in armed standoff. Family called for help with crisis; negotiators failed to prevent escalation.
● July 11 | Francis Gigliotti (43), Haverhill: Died while being restrained for safety. Running into traffic and acting erratically prior to encounter.
● June 30 | Kelsey Fitzsimmons (28), North Andover: Postpartum depression crisis. Fatal confrontation with police while being served a restraining order.
● June 28 | Andrew Horsman (41), Middleboro: Stabbed mother’s partner/arson attempt. Family had previously discussed his potential for violence.
● June 23 | Akram El Moukhtari (18), Revere: Injured State Trooper with stolen motorcycle. Father reported teen suffers from ADHD and mental health struggles.
● June 20 | Adam Zwetchkenbaum (39), Unknown: Arrested after standoff where he threatened officers with a machete; transported for evaluation.
● May 27 | Elvis Haughton (46), Boston: Self-inflicted gunshot near hospital. Disoriented and in crisis; grabbed officer's gun.
● May 20 | Unidentified Individual, Beverly: Three-hour standoff while armed and experiencing a mental health crisis; surrendered peacefully.
● May 19 | Raymond Nydam (53), Worcester: Arrested after nine-hour standoff; threatened officers with a rifle and a samurai sword.
● May 17 | Andrew Oprian (27), Belmont: Road rage hatchet attack. Bipolar disorder; psychologist testified he did not recognize his actions during mania.
● May 17 | James Brett St. Clair (38), Arlington: Stole truck/trailer causing extensive property damage. Incoherent; ordered for competency evaluation.
● May 14 | Cornelius Williams (34), Boston: Bizarre behavior/followed woman into home. Attorney stated he suffers from mental health issues.
● May 11 | Unidentified Male, Burlington: Threatened a shooting at a mall while in a mental health crisis; determined to have no access to firearms.
● May 9 | Wilfredo Burgos (45), Boston: Random slashed visitor outside hospital (56 stitches). Homeless individual in active crisis.
● April 21 | Maxim Vasilyov (49), Brighton: Threatened people with dumbbells.
Schizoaffective disorder; cycled in/out of system for 20 years without stabilization.
● April 21 | Omar Riaz (26), Boston: Murdered woman in apartment. Acting erratically for months; held for competency restoration.
● April 15 | Nicholas Akerberg (28), Woburn: Pepper spray attack at courthouse. Attorney described him as "deranged" and mentally ill.
● March 25 | Patrick Sargent, Boylston: Shot and killed by police after threatening his family and an officer with a knife.
● March 15 | Sebastian DeGout (39) | Dracut: DeGout allegedly stabbed his mother repeatedly while experiencing a psychotic episode that left him detached from reality.
● March 4 | Alina Dunham (24), Quincy: High-speed chase in stolen vehicle. Documented
history of stealing emergency vehicles while in crisis.
● March 4 | Thaddeus Joseph (22), Avon: Alleged matricide with carving knife. Struggling with anxiety/self-harm prior to tragedy.
● March 2 | Lemark Jaramillo (32), Boston: Shot by off-duty officer after chasing people with a knife; shouting about the end of the world.
● Jan 15 | Kevin Coelho, Barnstable: Two life-threatening car crashes. Hospital policy prevented evaluation while under arrest, leading to release and second crash.
● Jan 7 | Angel Torres Morales (23), Logan Airport: Psychotic episode on plane. Attempted to open exit door; ordered to continue medication/treatment.

 

2024 TRAGEDIES
●
Dec 15 | Unidentified Male, Fitchburg: Shot by police after allegedly pointing a firearm at
officers following suicidal statements.
●
Dec 11 | Unidentified Male, Allston: Found dead following an overnight police standoff at
an apartment building.
●
Dec 11 | Unidentified Male (20s), Methuen: Taken into custody after a three-hour standoff
during a domestic violence incident.
●
Dec 8 | Unidentified Male, Charlestown: Running on train tracks in undergarments near
submerged vehicle; transported for medical evaluation.
●
Nov 18 | Heather MacKinnon (61), Plainville: Allegedly set fire to furniture in apartment
4
complex. Defense requested a mental health evaluation.
●
Nov 7 | Nikolas Rescigno (31), Hyannis: Random unprovoked stabbing of teenager.
Known history of illness and prior knife-related warrant.
●
Sept 30 | Alan Eugene Stec (61), East Bridgewater: Attacked driver/attempted to run
over passengers. Ordered for dangerousness hearing/evaluation.
●
Sept 24 | Christian Alexander, Reading: Razor blade attack on parents. Reported "psycho
attack"; mother confirmed history of illness.
●
Sept 23 | Djeff Josa (29), Weymouth: Hit multiple police cars while acting erratically; sent
for competency evaluation.
●
Sept 20 | Tyler Dow Baglini (31), Dartmouth: Killed girlfriend. Experiencing paranoid
delusions about "serial killers"; non-compliant with medication.
●
Aug 20 | John Madej (51), Boston: Chased people with large knife while in psychosis. Sex
offender with SMI; had recently stopped taking medication.
●
Aug 19 | Jennifer Paez (35), Unknown: Murder-suicide of infant son. Documented history
of illness; made delusional claims about being "God.
"
●
Aug 15 | Matthew Paluzzi (26), Unknown: Stabbed father to death. Had been through
several programs; on probation for prior 2020 armed incident.
●
July 27 | Kymani Walker (19), Boston: Allegedly lunged at a stranger with a knife; ordered
to undergo a mental health evaluation.
●
July 4 | Manuel Cardoso (44), Dorchester: Attempted to kidnap a child. Forensic
psychologist reported he was unable to have a coherent conversation.
●
June 26 | Prasiddha Baruwal (28), Mission Hill: Accused of arson. Found not competent to
stand trial after evaluation at Bridgewater State.
●
June 6 | Jessica Cavallaro (24), Bedford: Fatally shot both parents following a panic
attack. Ordered for psychiatric evaluation.
●
May 25 | Jared Ravizza (26), Braintree/Plymouth: Stabbed four girls in theater and two
restaurant staff. Released by hospital one month prior due to narrow
"dangerousness"
criteria.
●
May 22 | Dominique Long (31), Malden: Fatal police encounter. Brandishing knife;
witnesses described him as "acting crazy
" prior to incident.
●
May 7 | Ygor Barboza (24), Barnstable: Stabbed father while experiencing religious
delusions. Family was unable to secure necessary help prior.
●
April 17 | Ladarrell Murchison (30), Unknown: Threw Molotov cocktails into a home.
Attorney cited need for medical help rather than incarceration.
●
April 5 | Michael Williams (51), Bridgewater: Committed to Bridgewater State after
combative incident at City Hall.
●
March 18 | Genesis Hurtado (26), East Boston: Arrested for setting fires in three stores;
awaiting competency evaluation.
●
March 14 | Elismar Ferreira, Weymouth: Erratically drove limousine near a school.
Attorney cited significant struggles with mental health.
●
March 6 | Justin Moreira (30), Hyannis: Held mother at knifepoint/fired at police.
5
Expressed paranoid delusions about federal agents; history of threats.
●
Feb 29 | Mariam Dealmedia (38), South Boston: Bank robbery. Defense cited struggles
with both addiction and mental illness.
●
Feb 21 | Unidentified Male, Boston: Arrested for pushing a 69-year-old victim toward
subway tracks.
●
Feb 19 | Gina Martell (42), Marshfield: Attacked officers with ceramic figure. Extensive
history of violent encounters and paranoid behavior.
●
Feb 16 | Emmanual Lopes, Weymouth: Murdered police sergeant and elderly woman.
Mother begged hospital to keep him four weeks prior; was told he couldn't be held.
●
Feb 6 | Joseph Hurley (62), Danvers: Allegedly shot wife four times. Treated for
self-inflicted wounds and medical issues.
●
Jan 31 | Jonathan Paluzzi (44), Unknown: Brutal killing of family pet. Attorney cited as
prime example of need for medical intervention vs incarceration.
●
Jan 20 | Michael Ortega (53), Wilbraham: Barricade/gunfire with police. Hospitalized with
wounds; reportedly suffered from untreated depression and anger.
2023 TRAGEDIES
●
Dec 29 | Julius Allen Owens (48), Mattapan: Standoff/fired at firefighters. Police initially
responded to psychosis but left when he refused to exit; situation escalated.
●
Dec 27 | Unidentified Male (21), Cambridge: Nearly killed father during bipolar psychosis.
Illness prevented him from recognizing need for help; refused voluntary services.
●
Dec 6 | Samuel Patillo (36), Dedham: Died after being tased/pepper-sprayed while
responding to stabbing of family members.
●
Nov 8 | Cheryl Rios (50), Stoneham: Stabbed 81-year-old mother and adult daughter
while experiencing a mental health crisis.
●
Nov 2 | Lucas Larson (17), Sharon: Allegedly killed his father. Court psychologist stated
Larson did not understand the proceedings.
●
Oct 22 | Aaron Pennington (33), Gardner: Fatal shooting of wife. Family described
incident as a failure of the system to address his known struggles.
●
June 25 | Christopher Ferguson (41), Newton: Killed three people. Long history of bipolar
disorder; family concerned he was unstable; recently discharged from hospital.
●
June 1 | Daniel Uhlman (53), Westboro: Allegedly killed his mother in a hotel parking lot.
●
May 28 | April Monroe (48), Somerville: Charged with strangling her mother. Known
history of mental illness; exhibited bizarre behavior post-incident.
●
May 14 | Shawn O’Connell (23), Oxford: Shot by police after charging an officer with a
sword in the roadway.
●
March 15 | Jonathan Pinney (38), Boston: Attempted to throw disabled wife into channel,
believing she was an "imposter.
" Sent to Bridgewater State.
●
March 13 | Dion Pelzer, West End: Randomly slashed a stranger’s throat. History of SMI
and homelessness without stabilization.
6
●
March 9 | Monica Velez-Carbello (35), Mattapan: Attacked child with jagged can while
experiencing paranoid delusions.
●
March 5 | Francisco Torres (33), Leominster: Acted erratically on flight; attempted to open
exit door. Long-documented history of mental illness.
●
Feb 5 | Marianne Griffiths (56), Easton: Fatal police encounter during wellness check.
Brandishing a BB gun that appeared to be a rifle.
●
Jan 24 | Lindsay Clancy, Duxbury: Fatal tragedy involving three children. Case highlights
postpartum psychosis and barriers to securing necessary medical treatment.
2022 TRAGEDIES
●
Dec 27 | Alexandra Eckersley, NH/MA: Abandoned newborn in freezing tent. Family
noted laws made it impossible to move her into treatment until tragedy occurred.
●
Dec 28 | Latasha Sanders, Brockton: Life sentence for murder of two children. Acts driven
by ritual delusions; had refused treatment prior.
●
Dec 27 | Nikia Rivera (45), Dorchester: Arson. Claimed "the devil made her do it";
ordered for psychiatric evaluation in Worcester.
●
Dec 23 | Gustavo Woodward (18), Quincy: Random attack on woman. Bipolar disorder;
hearing voices at time of incident.
●
Dec 18 | Brien Buckley (35), Cohasset: Standoff after attacking police station with
chainsaw. Extensive psychiatric history.
●
Nov 30 | Christopher Keeley (27), Weymouth: Suspect in killing of elderly couple. Known
history of mental illness.
●
Sept 30 | Adam Howe (34), Truro: Killed mother/suicide in jail. Sent to jail instead of
hospital due to administrative error; profound failure of medical/correctional interface.
●
April 8 | Paul Salvaggio (54), Middleton: Accused of stabbing wife and daughter. Ordered
for evaluation at Bridgewater State.
●
March 15 | Najee Herbert (23), Boston: Fatally stabbed mother following argument over a
suicide note.
●
Feb 12 | Brendan Reilly (35), Lexington: Group home resident shot by police after
brandishing knife and failing to respond to non-lethal projectiles.
●
Jan 23 | Paul Courtemanche (42), Burlington: Fatal police encounter. Called 911 himself
reporting a crisis; brandished knife when officers arrived.
●
Jan 19 | Carmen Polito (39), Boston: Eratic behavior with knife and attempted carjacking.
Known mental health issues; speaking irrationally.
2021-2019 HIGHLIGHTS
●
Dec 14, 2021 | Brad Cappucci (33), Out-of-State: Found dead in Wyoming. Judge had
denied family
’s treatment hold in 2019 because there was no "evidence of violence.
"
7
●
Dec 2, 2021 | Shakeel Bodden (28), Somerville: Fatally stabbed sister’s boyfriend.
Released from mental health facility days prior to attack.
●
Nov 26, 2021 | Brady McCue (28), Winchester: Public rape. Released from hospital the
Monday before attack despite family
's warning of increasing aggression.
●
Nov 9, 2021 | Nadeem Patrick (29), Dorchester: Violent assault of a minor. Documented
history of schizophrenia.
●
Nov 9, 2021 | Dashaun Wright (37), Dorchester: Fatal police encounter during standoff.
Long-documented history of mental illness.
●
Aug 14, 2021 | Stephanie Gerardi (38), Saugus: Fatal police encounter during crisis.
Family called for assistance regarding her history of illness.
●
July 31, 2021 | Jean Paul Durand (65), Unknown: Homeless individual with SMI attacked
nurse with fire extinguisher (brain bleed).
●
June 28, 2021 | Jack Callahan (19), Duxbury: Drowned father during psychotic episode.
Described as an "exorcism.
"
●
June 21, 2021 | Jose Montanez (43), Springfield: Brandished firearm while exhibiting
bizarre behavior. Cycle of arrests without stabilization.
●
May 9, 2021 | Zachary Richardson (24), Leicester: Fatal police encounter after driving
vehicle into police station.
●
March 4, 2021 | Jake Kavanaugh (23), Haverhill: Attacked woman and pregnant daughter.
Suffers from chronic mental illness.
●
Feb 8, 2021 | Steven Walcott Jr. (42), E. Bridgewater: Fatally attacked father. Family
repeatedly sought intervention for his bipolar disorder prior to tragedy.
●
Jan 5, 2021 | Michael Conlon (28), Newton: Fatal police encounter. Conlon had known
mental health issues and was off medication.
●
Dec 18, 2020 | Andrew Bailey (26), Mashpee: Killed mother during paranoid delusion.
Released from hospital shortly before tragedy.
●
Dec 10, 2020 | Ryan True (21), Middleborough: Brutal stabbing of parents. Bipolar
disorder; off prescribed medications at time of incident.
●
Nov 16, 2020 | Richard Kane Jr. (41), Wayland: Murder-suicide of mother. Battling
significant mental health issues prior.
●
Nov 2, 2020 | Thomas Celona (35), Winchester: Fatal police encounter during crisis.
Hospitalized for behavior one week prior but allowed to sign himself out.
●
Sept 8, 2020 | Shaun Holiday, Brockton: Shot pregnant girlfriend. History of judicial
monitoring and mandated treatment holds.
●
March 20, 2020 | John Brittan (27), Amesbury: Killed mother during psychosis. Believed
she was an "imposter.
"
●
Feb 27, 2020 | Zackery Grandy (22), Dorchester: Killed mother. Defense reported years of
struggle with SMI and current disconnect from reality.
●
Feb 7, 2020 | Juston Root (41), Boston: Fatal police encounter during acute crisis. Root
lived with both bipolar and schizoaffective disorder.
●
Oct 24, 2019 | Sean Murphy (21), Plainville: Fatal matricide during command
8
hallucinations. Empathic counselor with no prior violence; case highlights sudden risk of
untreated psychosis.
Data Summary: These cases reveal a recurring failure to provide a clinical lifeline before a
situation escalates to violence. In nearly every instance, the history of illness was known—the
system simply waited for a crime to occur before acting.
9