FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 20, 2007

Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia (617) 679-6522                                                       

Lowell Man Found Guilty Of First Degree Murder

CAMBRIDGE – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office informed the public today that a jury has found a Lowell man guilty of first degree murder in connection with the death of Nancy Carignan, age 56, also of Lowell.       

Nino DiPadova, 35, was found guilty by a Lowell Superior Court jury of murder in the first degree today after a 12 day trial.  DiPadova will be sentenced tomorrow morning by Judge Kenneth Fishman.  A first degree murder conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

“Nino DiPadova committed a brutal and vicious attack against an innocent victim.” District Attorney Leone said. “We thank the jury for their thoughtful and just verdict that will take this dangerous man off the streets.  We also continue to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Nancy Carignan.”

According to authorities, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, July 28, Lowell Police responded to 3 Wachusetts Avenue for a report that a person had been stabbed.  Upon arrival they found Nancy Carignan evidencing numerous stab wounds.  She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Lowell Police contacted State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, and together they immediately commenced a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding Carignan’s death. 

An autopsy conducted on July 30, 2004, by the office of the State Medical Examiner (ME) found that Carignan died of multiple stab wounds. The ME ruled the death a homicide.

Upon further investigation by Lowell Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, authorities determined that DiPadova, a former tenant of the victim, stabbed her to death after a conversation that occurred on the evening of Monday, July 26.  She was discovered by family members on the evening of July 28.

DiPadova was arrested on the morning of July 29, without incident in Lowell. He was arraigned that same day in Lowell District Court, at which time he entered a plea of not guilty, and was held without bail.  On August 26, 2004, he was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Kevin Ryle.  Bethany Stevens and Mark Walter second sat ADA Ryle.  The victim witness advocate is Dora Quiroz.

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