Somerville Woman Charged In Mother's Death: DA

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Somerville woman has been charged with strangulation and assault on a person over 60, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police Charles Femino announced on Thursday.

April Monroe, 48, of Somerville was charged in connection to an assault on her 73-year-old mother, Gail Gasperini of East Boston.

Gasperini was found dead inside Monroe’s apartment on Summer Street on May 28, after her husband had reported her missing that evening. He told officials she had gone to visit her daughter but had never returned, according to the announcement.

Somerville police responded to Monroe’s apartment and found Gasperini dead inside. An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted the next day found Gasperini’s injuries indicated an assault, and after an investigation, Monroe was later charged with causing the injuries.

A ruling on the cause and manner of death has not been made and additional charges are possible, as the incident remains under an active and ongoing investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and Somerville Police.

Monroe will be arraigned today in Somerville District Court. The prosecutors assigned to the case are Daniel Harren and Mary O’Neill.