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Witnesses In Triple Murder Case Testify To Grand Jury
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Adam Lee Hall, 34, Caivus Veiovis, 31 and David Chalue, 44, have been charged with the killing of David Glasser, Robert Chadwell and Edward Frampton, after allegedly abducting the three men from a Linden Street apartment on or around Aug. 28. The case will go before a pre-trial jury on Wednesday and the trials of the three accused men are set to begin on Oct. 12.
One witness summonsed to testify before the grand jury received notice just 24 hours before the proceeding. The summons lists the case as Commonwealth vs John Doe, but the witness, who says she has been questioned repeatedly by investigators the first few days after the three deceased were reported missing, understood that she would be there to discuss her prior association with Hall.
The witness, who requested her name be withheld, said she knew nothing specific about this case and that her statement revolved around possible criminal acts related to her prior association with Hall. She said she had been questioned by police on the case both before and after the discovery of the three men's bodies and the subsequent arrests.
"They asked me all sorts of stuff, like did I know Leo [Hall] was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, and 'what do you know about Freakboy [Veiovis]?' But most of what I know about it all is from the news," the witness said.
Ocean Sutton, the 22-year-old girlfriend of Chalue, has confirmed that she will also appear before grand jury members the following day, on Thursday at 11 a.m. Sutton, whose apartment and parents' house have both been searched in connection with the case, declined to offer any further comment until she has spoken with an attorney.
Sutton has previously stated she believes the three men to be innocent.
Fred Lantz, spokesman for the Berkshire County district attorney's office, said on Tuesday that there was no new information available to the public at this time.
There has been an intensive investigation on a countywide scale since the Sept. 11 announcement that Hall, Chalue, and Veiovis had been charged in the triple homicide. Investigators searched homes and property in Pittsfield, Becket, Peru, North Adams and multiple vehicles have been seized. On Sept. 20, wet-suited police were seen near the Lenox Dale bridge where Hall was allegedly seen disposing of possible evidence prior to his arrest.
Officials have declined to comment on conflicting reports of an abandoned vehicle recovered from Pittsfield State Forest during the large-scale search there on Sept.3 and Sept. 4 or alternate rumors of a car brought to nearby Sayer's Auto Wrecking by the suspects to be crushed. To date, no official confirmation has been given that any evidence relevant to the murders was found in this area, despite the scope of the search there.
However, concrete barriers now block off the nearby section of Potter Mountain Road from just beyond Sayer's and at the other end in Hancock.
Meanwhile, the commonwealth quickly made arrangement to purchase a section of property at the end of West Street in Pittsfield, through the Department of Conservation and Recreation, for the purpose of better blocking off access to the other side of the state forest. This intention was made known to the City Council on Sept. 13 and confirmed to iBerkshires by representatives from the DCR.
The number of witnesses to be heard by the grand jury this week remains unknown.
Pittsfield Bicyclist Dies After Colliding With School Bus
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Shortly before 8 a.m. Everett Clark, 63, was riding eastbound on East Street when a school bus made a right-hand turn from Willis Street onto East Street, where the two collided. Clark was taken to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead as a result of the crash.
Police said the bus driver, Catherine Collins, 44, of Pittsfield, was unable to avoid the collision.
The crash is currently under investigation and police are asking any witnesses to contact the accident investigation unit at 413-448-9700 extension 338.
Superior Court Briefs: September 22 - September 29
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Michael Pahl, 24, of Bristol, Conn. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, two counts of malicious destruction of personal property over $250 and a single count of larceny in a building.
Pahl was released on personal recognizance. It is alleged that Pahl broke in to two homes in Becket between November 23, 2010 and December 8, 2010.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, September 27
Robert Whipple, 44, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and 19 counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.
Whipple was sentenced to one to two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on two counts of dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and 18 counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.
Whipple was placed on three years probation on the remaining possession charge. During the probation period he must undergo counseling, forfeit all computer equipment and can not own a phone or device capable of accessing the internet.
Whipple had child pornography on his home computer between December 3, 2005 and June 12, 2009.
Kevin Karch, 47, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to 40 counts of possession of visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.
He was sentenced to concurrent two to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on 39 of the counts. He was placed on three years probation on the other charge. During the probation period he must undergo counseling, forfeit all computer equipment and can not own a phone or device capable of accessing the internet.
Karch had images on his home computer in July, 2009 and February, 2010.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 29
Jon Gilmore, 21, of Pittsfield was found guilty by a jury on two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and single counts of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail pending sentencing on Oct. 3.
Gilmore attempted to assault a 22-year-old man in Pittsfield on August 16, 2009.
Gilmore was found not guilty on a single count of armed assault with intent to murder.
Pittsfield Man Hospitalized After Being Shot By Police
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According to the district attorney's office, Keith Carnute, 46, of Summit Street in Pittsfield was shot by Lanesborough Officer Timothy Sorrell on Silver Street after Carnute allegedly went after him with a knife.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., police and fire responded to Silver Street, near Ore Bed Road, after two women walking their dogs reported a body in the road. Upon arrival, Sorrell and firefighters found Carnute on the edge of an elevated shoulder in a heavily wooded area. Carnute was allegedly armed with a knife and began advancing on Sorrell, who then shot Carnute once in the chest, according to the officials.
Two volunteer firefighters administered first aid and Carnute was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.
The circumstances of the shooting are under investigation by state police detectives, ballistics and the Crime Scene Services Unit.
Williamstown Teen Charged With OUI, Resisting Arrest
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Elijah Price, 19, of Pines Lodge Park was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol, failing to stop for police, resisting arrest, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, marked lanes violation and operating a motor vehicle without a license.
North Adams Police said they received a report at about 1:53 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25, of an intoxicated driver headed west on Massachusetts Avenue in a maroon Oldsmobile and contacted Williamstown officers.
Officer Michael Ziemba said estimated the vehicle was doing 55 mph in a 35 mph zone on North Hoosac Road and that it accelerated when he turned on his lights and siren. Price turned onto Henderson Road and then Cummings Avenue, where he went off the road and struck the tree.
Police said he tried to flee the scene, refused to follow verbal commands and then charged the officers with clenched fists. He was Tasered because of his "combative actions."
The car suffered heavy damage and was towed by Ron's Auto Repair. Price was taken to North Adams Regional Hospital by Village Ambulance for treatment of minor injuries. Upon release, he was arrested and held at the station lockup on $500 bail.
