Defendant in 2011 Lowell Homicide Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder

WOBURN – Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Pericles Clergeau, 24, of Lowell plead guilty today to second degree murder in connection with the 2011 murder of Jose Roldan. Judge Joshua Wall sentenced the defendant to life in State Prison. Second degree murder carries a life sentence, with eligibility for parole once the defendant has served 15 years of their sentence.

“The defendant today accepted responsibility for the death of Jose Roldan, an employee of the Lowell Transitional Living Center where the defendant was living at the time,” said District Attorney Ryan.  “Today's plea is the appropriate resolution to a tragic incident, particularly in light of the defendant's long documented history of mental health issues."

According to authorities, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on January 29, 2011 Lowell Police received reports of a stabbing at the Lowell Transitional Living Center on Middlesex Street in Lowell.  Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Jose Roldan, 34, of Lowell, and observed the defendant, a resident of the shelter, still armed with a knife.  The defendant was subdued and arrested at the scene.

Authorities learned that the defendant attacked the victim during an altercation where he pulled out a knife and proceeded to stab the victim in the neck.

The victim was airlifted to Brigham & Woman’s Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

This case was investigated by Lowell Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Tom O’Reilly.

The Victim Witness Advocate was Kathleen Keefe.