Mother, Son Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide In North Andover: Police

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Two deaths that occurred at a North Andover home are an apparent murder-suicide, according to a release from Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray.

Jennifer T. Paez, 35, and her 9-month-old baby boy, Valentino Paez, died in the incident.

North Andover police responded to a 911 call at 5:15 p.m. Monday at a Turnpike Street (Route 114) home and found the mother and her infant son with apparent knife wounds.

Jennifer Paez was pronounced dead at the house. Valentino Paez was taken via ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital and pronounced dead at about 6:30 p.m.

While the investigation is active, investigators say early indicators suggest that Jennifer wounded her son and then took her own life.

“While everyone is, understandably, still struggling to comprehend what went so terribly wrong here, our deepest sympathies go out to the family of Jennifer Paez and her son, Valentino,” Tucker said in a statement. “I would also like to thank the North Andover Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and all those responding for helping this family and this community in the wake of this unimaginable crime.”

Gray also expressed his condolences to the family, adding, “I would like to recognize the hard-working officers of the North Andover Police Department that responded to this tragic incident, as well as our partners with the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Andover Police, North Andover Fire Department, the North Andover Community Support coordinator, and Lawrence General Hospital for their assistance.”

The incident happened at a Route 114 home that led to a large emergency response and temporarily shut down traffic in the area, according to WHDH 7-News.