Man charged with lying in murder investigation returns to court
EAST BROOKFIELD – A Ware man who has been charged with misleading a police investigation into the murder of West Brookfield mother and her three children Matthew Locke, 31, of Ware, had a pre-trial hearing in the East Brookfield District Court Tuesday morning and his case was continued to May 24 for a show cause hearing.
Matthew Locke, 31, was arraigned on March 26 on charges of misleading a police investigation into the murders of Sara Bermudez and her three children. Their bodies were found in their home at 10 Old Warren Road on Thursday, March 1, in an upstairs bedroom.
It was reported that Locke was interviewed by police while in jail, but the Worcester County District Attorney’s office reports the investigators were not from their office. Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early's office and the West Brookfield Police Department are continuing to investigate the murders.
Moses Bermudez, their husband and father, was in California at the time the bodies were found.
According to court records, when Sara, 38, Madison, 8, James, 6, and Michael 2, were found in their home, police began investigating the four murders and interviewed Locke on several occasions.
On Friday, March 23, Locke was interviewed by State Police, and officials confirmed a search warrant was executed at his residence.
“During the interview, Locke stated he had recently visited 10 Old Warren Road with an associate, Joshua Gagnon,” read the police report. “Locke stated that when they pulled into the driveway, Moses Bermudez was sitting in his truck. Locke told investigators that Moses stated that they should pay attention to the news in the coming days because anyone associated with MS-13 was going to get hurt and die. Locke’s statement indicted that members of MS-13 were responsible for the murders.”
MS-13 is a street gang also known as La Mara Salvatrucha with roots in Los Angeles. The gang is known for their violent crimes.
The following day, investigators spoke with Moses Bermudez, who denied seeing Locke since his family was murdered or making any statement in regard to MS-13. Bermudez also denied linking anyone from the gang to the murders.
Court records show investigators spoke with Gagnon at his residence in Ware. He said he was with Locke at the Bermudez residence within the past two weeks. “However, he stated that Moses Bermudez never spoke of having people killed or any mention of MS-13,” states the police report.
Locke was arraigned and is currently being held in the Worcester County House of Correction in in West Boylston.
There is also a warrant for him out of Palmer District Court on charges of larceny over $250, vandalizing property, possession of a burglarious instrument and trespassing.
As the murder investigation is ongoing, Early said anyone with any information regarding a discarded yellow fuel container or that may have witnessed any suspicious activity from Wednesday, Feb. 28 through Friday, March 2, should report it to the State Police dispatch center at 508-867-1170.
