Pittsfield, MA
News
'Camp Ramah' Director Mishandled Teen's Sex Assault Case In Western Mass, Lawsuit Says 'Camp Ramah' Director Mishandled Teen's Sex Assault Case In Western Mass, Lawsuit Says
'Camp Ramah' Director Mishandled Teen's Sex Assault Case In Western Mass, Lawsuit Says The director of a popular Jewish sleep-away camp in Western Massachusetts has been removed from the position after a scathing lawsuit accused him of trying to cover up a sex abuse claim made by a teen girl. Ethan Linden, who worked at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, is accused of telling the 15-year-old girl from New Jersey in 2018 that he wouldn't tell anyone about how she woke up to a boy putting his fingers inside of her genitals, reads the suit, filed in Manhattan federal court. The girl allegedly told her head counselor, who told camp officials, but after days without hearing back, she h…

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by Cecilia Levine
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Missing Western Massachusetts Woman Found Safe, Police Say Missing Western Massachusetts Woman Found Safe, Police Say
Missing Western Massachusetts Woman Found Safe, Police Say Update: A 74-year-old woman from Western Massachusetts who was reported missing has been found safe. The Wilbraham Police Department said Sandra Stephens has been found. Authorities previously reported that Stephens had visited her son in the Hampden County city of Palmer on Sunday, May 15, and hadn't returned to the Orchard Valley Senior Living facility in Wilbraham.  Original report: Police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing woman from Western Massachusetts who was last seen in Connecticut.  Sandra Stephens, age 74, visited her son in the Hampden County city of Palmer …

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by Nicole Valinote
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Missing 25-Year-Old Woman From Western Massachusetts Found Safe Missing 25-Year-Old Woman From Western Massachusetts Found Safe
Missing 25-Year-Old Woman From Western Massachusetts Found Safe Update: A 25-year-old woman who was reported missing in Western Massachusetts has been found safe. The Pittsfield Police Department reported that Leigha Pyenson has been found. Police previously reported on Monday, May 16, that Pysenson was missing.  Original report: Police in Western Massachusetts are searching for a missing 25-year-old woman. The Pittsfield Police Department in Berkshire County issued an alert on Monday, May 16, that Leigha Pyenson was reported missing. Pyenson is described as being about 5-foot-6 and 130 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes, police said…

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by Nicole Valinote
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Police In Western Massachusetts Say Missing 17-Year-Old Has Been Found Police In Western Massachusetts Say Missing 17-Year-Old Has Been Found
Police In Western Massachusetts Say Missing 17-Year-Old Has Been Found Update: Police in Western Massachusetts said a 17-year-old girl who was reported missing has been found. On Thursday, May 12, the Pittsfield Police Department reported that Angelina Campbell had been reported missing. In an update, police said Angelina has been located. Original report: Police in Western Massachusetts have asked the public for help locating a missing 17-year-old girl. Angelina Campbell has been reported missing, according to an announcement from the Pittsfield Police Department on Thursday, May 12. Police said Angelina is described as being about 5-foot-2 and 130 pound…

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by Nicole Valinote
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Body Found At Park In Western Mass Body Found At Park In Western Mass
Body Found At Park In Western Mass A person who was found dead at a popular Western Massachusetts park died from a medical-related problem, officials say. The body was found in Hampden County in Agawam at School Street Park on Monday, May 9. The person's body was discovered early Monday morning in the parking lot of the park, Hampden District Attorney Spokesperson James Leydon said. Police did not release either the gender or name of the person found. An investigation is underway, but Leydon said on Tuesday, May 10, that the cause of death appears to be medically related.

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by Kathy Reakes
Springfield, MA
News
Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Possessing More Than 100 Images Of Child Pornography Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Possessing More Than 100 Images Of Child Pornography
Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Possessing More Than 100 Images Of Child Pornography A man from Western Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to possessing more than 100 images of child pornography. Hampden County resident Herve Plasse, age 67, of Chicopee, entered a guilty plea on Monday, May 9, to one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He was indicted in September of 2019, the announcement said.  A search of his residence in July of 2015 revealed more than 100 images of child pornography on his computer, the US Attorney's Office reported. He admitted he had accessed a we…

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by Nicole Valinote
Springfield, MA
News
Missing Western Massachusetts 15-Year-Old Has Been Found, Police Say Missing Western Massachusetts 15-Year-Old Has Been Found, Police Say
Missing Western Massachusetts 15-Year-Old Has Been Found, Police Say Update:  Police said a 15-year-old girl from Western Massachusetts who was reported missing has been found. The Springfield Police Department reported that Onasun Jolly has been located. Police previously reported that she was reported missing after she left a friend's home on Tuesday, May 3, and didn't return home. Original report: Police are asking the public for help locating a missing 15-year-old girl from Western Massachusetts. The Springfield Police Department reported that Onasun Jolly did not return to her home on Castle Street after running away from a friend's home o…

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by Nicole Valinote
Albany, NY
News
Issues At School Caused Missing NY Teacher 'Heartache,' Brother Says In TV Interview Issues At School Caused Missing NY Teacher 'Heartache,' Brother Says In TV Interview
Issues At School Caused Missing NY Teacher 'Heartache,' Brother Says In TV Interview As the search for a missing New York woman in Western Massachusetts hits the one-month mark, her brother says an incident at the high school where she teaches caused her "heartache." Albany County resident Meghan A. Marohn, age 42, of Delmar, hasn't been seen since Sunday, March 27 when she was on a trip in Western Massachusetts. Her vehicle, a black 2017 Subaru Impreza, was found in Berkshire County in the town of Lee parked on Church Street at Longcope Park, a heavily wooded hiking area in south Lee, said the Massachusetts State Police. See Earlier Story: Search For Missing Delmar …

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by Kathy Reakes
Springfield, MA
News
Western Mass Man Admits To Money Laundering Scheme Western Mass Man Admits To Money Laundering Scheme
Western Mass Man Admits To Money Laundering Scheme A man from Western Massachusetts has admitted to his involvement in a scheme to launder more than $1 million in proceeds from phone scams. Hampden County resident Utkarsh Thakur, age 29, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy on Monday, April 25, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. The US Attorney's Office reported that Thakur's co-conspirators called victims between January and August 2021 and pretended to be in positions of authority, such as law enforcement. They would reportedly threaten the victims and in…

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by Nicole Valinote
Albany, NY
News
Search For NY Teacher Who Went Missing In Berkshires Nears One Month Search For NY Teacher Who Went Missing In Berkshires Nears One Month
Search For NY Teacher Who Went Missing In Berkshires Nears One Month Police and family members are still searching for an upstate New York woman who has been missing for almost a month. Albany County resident Meghan A. Marohn, age 42, of Delmar, hasn't been seen since Sunday, March 27 when she was on a trip in Western Massachusetts. Her vehicle, a black 2017 Subaru Impreza, was found in Berkshire County in the town of Lee parked on Church Street at Longcope Park, a heavily wooded hiking area in south Lee, said the Massachusetts State Police. See Earlier Story: Massachusetts State Police Issue Alert For Woman Who Went Missing In Lee Her brother, P…

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by Kathy Reakes
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Man Wanted For Using Fake CT ID Card, Police Say Man Wanted For Using Fake CT ID Card, Police Say
Man Wanted For Using Fake CT ID Card, Police Say Recognize him? Law enforcement agencies in Western Massachusetts are seeking the public’s assistance as they attempt to identify and locate a man wanted for identity theft involving an altered Connecticut ID card. In Hampden County, local police in Chicopee released a photo of a man who was found in possession of an altered identity card before fleeing the region. According to police, the ID card had the real identification of another person, but the photo had been altered to match the wanted suspect. After being caught with the card, police said that the man then left the area in a blac…

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by Zak Failla
Amherst, MA
News
Investigation Of Endangered Cattle Breed Results In Animal Cruelty Charges In Western Mass Investigation Of Endangered Cattle Breed Results In Animal Cruelty Charges In Western Mass
Investigation Of Endangered Cattle Breed Results In Animal Cruelty Charges In Western Mass An investigation into rare “Kerry” cattle in Western Massachusetts led to a host of charges for a woman accused of animal cruelty. The Massachusetts SPCA said that eight head of very rare “Kerry” cattle, along with one Holstein cow and 22 Saanen, Lamancha, and Alpine-mix goats are available for adoption at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm following an animal cruelty investigation in Hampshire County. Officials said that the investigation was launched in Amherst, leading to 35 counts of felony animal cruelty against Shannon Rice-Nichols, of Hadley. She is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges i…

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by Zak Failla