Woman, Kids Slain; PD Seeks Public's Help: West Brookfield Deaths

WEST BROOKFIELD, MA—The victims found dead in a house in West Brookfield were slain, and state police are now looking for a discarded fuel container in connection with the homicide, according to an update from District Attorney Joe Early, Jr., on Saturday afternoon.

Three small children and a woman were found dead inside a West Brookfield home on Thursday afternoon. A family member and then police were called to the home at 10 Old Warren Road for a "well-being check" Thursday afternoon.

District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said Saturday that several fires had been set in the home, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Early also announced the victims' names: Sara Bermudez and her children Madison, 7; James 5, Michael, 2.

Police on Thursday found what they described as a "disturbing scene" that included the four bodies with burns. The children were ages 2, 5 and 7. The two youngest were boys and the oldest was a girl.

Investigators are asking anyone who has seen a discarded plastic yellow fuel can, which is usually used to store diesel fuel, to call the State Police Dispatch Center at 508-867-1170. Police said that a yellow fuel can appears to be missing from the home.

Investigators are also asking for anyone in the West Brookfield area with active home or business surveillance cameras or dashboard-mounted cameras to call the State Police Dispatch Center.

The deaths are being investigated by the State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and West Brookfield Police.

Two of the children were reportedly 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. "There is no cause for alarm," he wrote. Classes were on a normal schedule Friday, he said.

Anyone with any information should call 508-867-1170.

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