For Immediate Release: January 22, 2008                                    
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 617-679-6522

Lowell Men Arraigned In Connection With Murder of Lowell Woman

LOWELL– Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office informed the public today that two Lowell men were arraigned today in Lowell District Court in connection with the murder of Shannon Meara, 24, of Lowell.

Silinda Sun, 38, and Eric Anderson, 28, were arraigned today in Lowell District Court before Judge Neil Walker. Sun, Meara’s boyfriend, was arraigned on one count of first degree murder and was ordered held without bail.  Anderson was arraigned on one count of accessory after the fact and ordered held on $100,000 cash bail.   Anderson’s probation on a previous charge was also revoked and he is being held on that charge.  

According to authorities, on Sunday, January 20, at approximately 7:45 a.m., Dracut Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to 200 Skyline Drive in Dracut on a report of a female body discovered in a dumpster.

When they arrived, the officers and troopers found the deceased victim, who was later identified as Shannon Meara.   An autopsy conducted by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office (ME) determined the death to be a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound to the head.

Dracut Police, Lowell Police, and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office commenced an immediate investigation into the circumstances of Meara’s death.

Based on that investigation, it is alleged that Sun, Meara’s boyfriend, is responsible for killing her at an apartment at 556 Westford Street in Lowell.  Anderson is alleged to have provided assistance to Sun following the murder.

Sun and Anderson will both next appear in court on February 22, for probable cause hearings.

These charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Beth Merachnik. The case is being investigated by Dracut Police, Lowell Police, and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.      

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