Worcester, MA: Girlfriend charged in slaying

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau@telegram.com

WORCESTER — A city woman has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of her boyfriend in a Clapp Street apartment, police said.

Shirley Sanabria, 44, of 17 Clapp St., Apt. 2, was arrested yesterday morning at 58 Vernon St. and also charged with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

Police were called to the Clapp Street apartment about 12:30 p.m. Sunday in response to a report of a person who appeared to be dead.

Joseph Scott, 45, who lived in the apartment, was found lying on the floor unresponsive. Paramedics pronounced him dead. He had a puncture wound to his chest.

Police said the victim and Ms. Sanabria had gotten into a verbal fight sometime earlier in the day.

“During the altercation the two were separated, but moments later the victim approached Ms. Sanabria and the argument continued,” police said in a release. “At one point in the argument, Ms. Sanabria, who is the girlfriend of the victim, grabbed a knife and stabbed the victim once in the chest.”

After the alleged attack, Mr. Scott walked into his room and was later found dead, police said.

Mr. Scott's body was taken to the state medical examiner's office so an autopsy could be conducted. Detectives obtained a warrant Sunday and searched the apartment.

Police said they found several rounds of .22-caliber ammunition inside a bedroom belonging to Jonathan Sanabria Sears, 18, also of 17 Clapp St., Apt. 2. Mr. Sears, who is Ms. Sanabria's son, does not have a license to carry a firearm or firearm identification card and was charged with possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

Ms. Sanabria will be charged in Central District Court today along with Mr. Sears.

Neighbors and people living in the Clapp Street area didn't know much about the couple. Many said the pair could be seen walking on the street and they only exchanged a few friendly “hellos” from time to time.

Some neighbors said they heard gunshots come from the apartment sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning. A neighbor said she did not look to see what had happened and only noticed the ambulance and police cruisers Sunday.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information to send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous Web-based message to www.worcesterma.gov/police. Calls may be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.