Crime

Trial of Haverhill School Board Member Ferguson Gets Underway

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A jury of five women and two men were seated for the trial of Cheryl A. Ferguson, the Haverhill School Committee member charged last fall with alleged indecent assault on a person over 14. The criminal trial got underway at Haverhill District Court Tuesday and it set to continue Wednesday with First Justice Cesar A. Archilla presiding. The teen who lodged the complaint was identified in court but WHAV is not releasing the name because he was a minor at the time. Ferguson, 59, who represents Ward 3 on the School Committee, was arrested last Oct. 29 after the teenager’s mother told police Ferguson approached her son twice as he was standing outside the 7-Eleven on Dudley Street wearing a Mike Myers costume and mask in celebration of Halloween.

Crime

Judge Orders Man Evaluated for Dangerousness After Bank Robbery in Haverhill

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A 36-year-old Methuen, man charged with robbing a Haverhill bank of $10,000 after commandeering a car in Lawrence, is being held at the Middleton House of Corrections pending a dangerousness hearing. Ryan Messina, of 20 Calumet Road in Methuen, was arraigned in Haverhill District Count Wednesday, on four charges— assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest and unarmed robbery. Haverhill District Court Judge Cesar A. Archilla scheduled the dangerousness hearing for Wednesday, June 18. According to Essex County Assistant District Attorney Olivia Brooks, Messina is alleged to have ordered a person out of a white Honda CRV in Lawrence shortly after noon on Monday. He then is alleged to have driven to the Pentucket Bank at 395 Lowell Ave.

Crime

Police Arrest Methuen Man, 36, in Connection with Bank Robbery in Haverhill

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A 36-year-old Methuen man was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged in connection with the robbery of a Pentucket Bank branch in Haverhill early Monday afternoon. Ryan Messina was arrested around 3 p.m. on Merrimack Street in Methuen and charged with unarmed bank robbery and receiving a stolen motor vehicle, second offense. He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Haverhill District Court. Haverhill Police detectives with help from Massachusetts State Police, Methuen Police and the FBI took Messina into custody. Haverhill Police said Messina allegedly handed a teller a note demanding money and then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash Monday, around 12:45 p.m., at 395 Lowell Ave., near the intersection of River Street and Interstate 495.

Crime

Haverhill Police Ask For Public’s Help Finding Bank Robbery Suspect

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Police are looking for a white, relatively short man with a skinny build and light facial hair who robbed the Haverhill Westgate branch of Pentucket Bank early Monday afternoon. Haverhill Police said the man, estimated to be five foot seven to five foot nine inches tall, handed a teller a note demanding money and then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash around 12:45 p.m., at 395 Lowell Ave., near the intersection of River Street and Interstate 495. No injuries were reported. The branch temporarily closed after the incident, while Haverhill Police investigated with State Police and the FBI. Anyone with any information is asked to call Haverhill Detective John Orsillo at 978-373-1212, ext.

Crime

Imprisoned Salvadoran Man, Who Once Lived in Methuen, Receives Second Sentence

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A 57-year-old Salvadoran man, formerly living in Methuen, who was already serving a 20-25-year Massachusetts prison sentence for rape of child, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Agustin Landaverde-Romero was sentenced by U.S.  District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 21 months in prison to be served simultaneously with his state sentence. He is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In July 2020, Landaverde-Romero was arrested and charged with rape of child and rape of child by force in Essex County Superior Court. He was convicted and, in May 2023, was sentenced to 20-25 years in state prison.

Crime

Autopsy Report Confirms Plaistow, N.H., Woman Found Dead Sunday Was Murdered

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An autopsy confirms a 39-year-old Plaistow, N.H., woman who was found dead Sunday was stabbed and murdered. New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall and Plaistow Police Department Chief John Santoro said Wednesday in a joint release that Margaret Jasmin died from “multiple sharp force injuries.” They said the autopsy was conducted by Associate Medical Examiner Abigail Alexander. Dr. Alexander’s report concludes “her manner of death was homicide.”

Officials said Monday 36-year-old Reya N. Jasmin is expected to face second-degree murder charges following what they initially described Sunday as “a possible murder and attempted suicide.”

Plaistow Police officers were dispatched Sunday at 6:13 a.m., to an Old County Road home, after receiving an emergency 911 call. Officials said in an update Monday, when Plaistow Police searched the house, they found Reya Jasmin “only partially responsive and appeared to be suffering from several injuries” and was taken to an out-of-state hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A child who lived at the home was not injured.

Crime

Woman, 36, to be Charged In Connection with Death of Spouse in Plaistow, N.H.

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A 36-year-old woman is expected to face second-degree murder charges after an apparent murder and attempted suicide Sunday in Plaistow, N.H.

Officials said Monday an arrest warrant was issued for Reya N. Jasmin in connection with the death of her spouse, Margaret Jasmin, who was found dead from an apparent stab wound. As WHAV reported Sunday, Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall and Plaistow Police Department Chief John Santoro said in a press release Plaistow Police was dispatched Sunday at 6:13 a.m., to an Old County Road home, after receiving an emergency 911 call. Officials said in an update Monday, when Plaistow Police searched the house, they found Reya Jasmin “only partially responsive and appeared to be suffering from several injuries” and was taken to the hospital. A child who lived at the home was not injured. Reya Jasmin was at an out-of-state hospital Monday with non-life-threatening injuries.

Crime

State and Plaistow, N.H., Police Investigate ‘Suspicious’ Death

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New Hampshire State and Plaistow, N.H., police are investigating what they call a possible murder and attempted suicide Sunday morning. Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall and Plaistow Police Department Chief John Santoro said in a press release Plaistow Police was dispatched Sunday at 6:13 a.m., to an Old County Road home, after receiving an emergency 911 call. Once inside, they met with the caller and discovered a deceased adult female and an adult man suffering from injuries. The man was taken to the hospital and the woman’s death termed “suspicious.” An autopsy was scheduled to take place by the end of Sunday. Formella’s office said, there does not appear to be any threat to the general public