Probable cause hearing scheduled
EAST BROOKFIELD – Mathew Locke, 31, of Eddy Street in Ware, charged with misleading a murder investigation, is due back to court on June 21, after a hearing in East Brookfield District Court last week after Judge Richard Eustis refused to dismiss the case. The case was continued to June 21.
According to Brett Dillon, an assistant Worcester County district attorney, prosecutors are waiting for a grand jury and wished to continue the case to June. Locke’s attorney, John Madaio, said waiting for a grand jury is an excuse.
“We have been waiting for a grand jury for several months,” said Madaio, who had asked the judge to dismiss the case. “The last time we were here, we were told he would be indicted today. Locke has been involved in a separate case out of Palmer very recently. I know there are a lot of separate investigations going on.”
Locke was arraigned on Monday, March 26, on charges of misleading a police investigation in relation to the murders of Sara Bermudez and her three children in West Brookfield. The bodies of the mother and her children were found in their home at 10 Old Warren Road on Thursday, March 1, in an upstairs bedroom. Moses Bermudez, their husband and father, was in California at the time the bodies were found, and he and Locke are cousins.
“This man has rights,” said Madaio. “This is a situation where this man is being held on very high bail on this case of misleading on a police investigation case. They’re doing their investigation on something other than misleading.”
Madaio claims State Police are investigating Locke on two separate, very serious cases.
“State Police have visited Locke at least two separate times, on a different matter that I don’t represent him on,” said Madaio. He said he believes State Police went to both the House of Corrections in West Boylston as well as Ludlow to speak with Locke.
He said he does have concerns that Locke was asked to give DNA samples, via a cheek swab.
Locke is currently being held in Ludlow, on charges of larceny over $250, trespassing, vandalized property and possessing a burglarious instrument from a case out of Palmer District Court from August of 2014. He was sent to the Hamden County House of Corrections on May 17, following a hearing in Palmer.
Locke was arrested several weeks after Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early's office and the West Brookfield Police Department began investigating the case.
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 regarding the charge of misleading. “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.
According to Tim Connolly, communications director for the Worcester County District Attorney, the murders remain under investigation.
