Woman Charged in Stoneham Man's Murder

WOBURN - A 40-year-old Everett woman has been charged as an accessory in the carjacking and murder of Gary Duff-Turcotte of Stoneham last November, after she allegedly lied to a grand jury to give her nephew an alibi for the murder.

In Woburn District Court on Tuesday, Nicole Charla Woods was scheduled for a probable cause hearing on a charge of accessory after the fact of murder. But the hearing was postponed until June 13, pending a possible grand jury indictment.

Woods is accused of lying to the grand jury when she testified that her nephew, Clifton Gumbs, 26, of Everett, a co-defendant in the murder, was with her in her home at the time of the Nov. 6 fatal shooting in Everett, according to court documents.

Police allege that after the shooting, Woods told investigators that on the day of the murder, Gumbs came to her home and hid his cell phone in the ceiling. Police wanted the cell phone to show a link with the alleged shooter, Keith Herring, 27, of Brighton. As police showed up at her home to seize the cell phone, Woods allegedly admitted that Gumbs and another relative removed it from her home.

Before entering the grand jury on Nov. 10 to testify, Woods was allegedly overheard telling someone on the phone, "don't worry, I'm not going to say anything.''

Everett police allege that Duff-Turcotte was killed at around 2 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the area of Ferry and Chelsea streets in what has been described as a drug deal gone bad.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office alleges that Herring had arranged to meet with Duff-Turcotte to purchase marijuana for $700. Duff-Turcotte drove up to the meeting site with his girlfriend in the car. He had expressed concerns that he might be robbed, according to court documents.

Officials allege that Herring got into Duff-Turcotte''s car and when the victim balked at selling Herring any marijuana, Herring put a gun to his neck as another man, police identified as Gumbs, approached the driver's side door wearing a ski mask.

Police allege that Duff-Turcotte was ordered When the victim refused to exit the vehicle, Herring allegedly shot him in the chest. The victim ran from the vehicle, collapsing from the gunshot wound, while Herring and Gumbs allegedly drove off in the car. Police located Herring by using the signals from a GPS bracelet he was wearing as a condition of bail from an unrelated, open case in Middlesex Superior Court.

Both men are charged with murder, armed robbery, carjacking and illegal possession of a firearm.

Photo of Nicole Woods by Lisa Redmond/lisa.redmond@patch.com.