Suspect in January 16 Dracut Stabbing Arraigned

DRACUT – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Dracut Chief of Police Peter Bartlett have announced that James O’Neil, 59, of Dracut, was arraigned today at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington and charged with assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and domestic assault and battery in connection with an alleged stabbing of a woman who is known to him at a Sesame Street residence in Dracut.

Judge Ellen Caulo ordered the defendant held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing. The case is next scheduled for a status hearing on January 26.

Shortly after midnight on January 16, 2018 Dracut Police responded to a 911 call at a residence on Sesame Street. Upon arrival police located a woman in her 50s suffering from multiple life-threatening stab wounds.

Simultaneously police received a call of a serious motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Methuen Street and Parker Road. Based on the preliminary investigation, it is believed that O’Neil fled the Sesame Street residence following the alleged stabbing and intentionally crashed his motor vehicle.

O’Neil was transported to Lahey Hospital where he underwent surgery. The victim remains hospitalized in Boston in stable condition.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.