Arrest Made In Deaths Of 3 Children, Woman In West Brookfield

WEST BROOKFIELD, MA—A man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a woman and her three small children in a home in West Brookfield earlier this year. Worcester County DA Joseph Early announced that Matthew Locke, 32, Eddy Street, Ware, is being charged with the murders of all four.

Locke was ordered held without bail after being arraigned on four counts of murder in the deaths of a woman and her three children in their West Brookfield home.

Locke, who has been in custody since March 26 after being arrested on a charge of misleading police investigating the homicides, was charged today with four counts of murder in the slayings of Sara Bermudez, 38, Madison Bermudez, 8, James Bermudez, 6, and Michael Bermudez, 2. Their bodies were found about 3:30 p.m. on March 1 in their home at 10 Old Warren Road. There was evidence that there had been a fire in the home that extinguished itself, said the DA.

DNA and other evidence led to the murder charges, which were issued in East Brookfield District Court. Judge Robert J. Pellegrini continued his case to Oct. 18.

The bodies were found dead inside a West Brookfield home on Thursday, March 1. A family member and then police had been called to the home that afternoon at 10 Old Warren Road for a "well-being check."

District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said at the time that that several fires had been set in the home, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Police described as a "disturbing scene" that included burns on the four bodies.

Police originally sought the public's help in investigating the case, asking whether anyone had seen a discarded plastic yellow fuel can, typically used to store diesel fuel, that was missing from the home.

Two of the children were students at the West Brookfield Elementary School. The superintendent of the Quaboag Regional School District addressed the situation on the schools' Facebook page, attempting to reassure the community. "

Assistant District Attorneys Christopher P. Hodgens and Brett F. Dillon are prosecuting the case.