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Thursday, may 1

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

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

Police & Fire

Mom of 2, Girlfriend Of Suspect ID'd As Victim In Salem Murder Case: DA A 33-year-old Pablo Vicente man is charged with killing the mother of his two children and dumping her body, authorities announced Tuesday, Aug. 8. Nayeli Nieves, 20, of Salem, was reported missing on Monday from the home where she lived with Vicente and their 3-year-old and 18-month-old children, investigators said. They are being cared for by the Department of Children and Families. Salem police said officers received a tip that Vincente had harmed Nieves and began investigating him. Related: Salem Man Charged In Missing Woman's Murder While Vincente was arraigned on a murder charg…

08/08/2023

Police & Fire

Lynn High Girls Soccer Coach Groped Player, Tried To Sleep With Student, Sent Her Nudes: DA A 38-year-old Lynn high school soccer coach sent unsolicited nude photos of himself to an 18-year-old former play that he also tried to sleep with and groped an underage girl on his team, officials said. Oscar Juarez, of Saugus, is a junior varsity coach at Lynn Classical High School. The alleged incidents happened in 2022, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said. He was arrested and charged on Monday, Aug. 7, with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and distributing pornographic material – both felonies — and reckless endangerment of a child, a misdem…

08/08/2023

Police & Fire

Salem Man Murdered Missing Woman; Police Searching For Her Body: DA A 33-year-old Salem man is expected to be arraigned Tuesday morning, Aug. 8, in a woman's disappearance and killing, authorities said. Her body is still missing. Pablo Vicente is accused of killing the woman, the Essex County District Attorney said. Salem police received a tip that Vicente had harmed her and opened an investigation. They discovered evidence of foul play and arrested Vicente. Police were searching for her body Tuesday morning. The DA's office is not releasing the woman's name until they speak with her family. This is a developing story. Check back with Da…

08/08/2023

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