Lowell Man Convicted Of Manslaughter In Stabbing Deaths Of Two Women In July 2010

WOBURN– Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Edwin Nunez, 35, formerly of Lowell, was convicted today of manslaughter, (2 counts), in WoburnSuperior Court in connection with a July 23, 2010 double homicide.  

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Kaplan presided at the trial which began on December 1.  Following the verdict today, Judge Kaplan ordered Nunez held without bail.  Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, December 22.

“The defendant showed no mercy when he went on a raging attack viciously stabbing two women who desperately sought to escape him,” said District Attorney Ryan.  “Here the defendant, enraged over the loss of 80 dollars, acted with complete disregard for human lives. The unspeakable tragedy of this case is that it highlights the underworld of illegal drugs in which violence is too often used to settle minor disputes.”

According to authorities, at approximately 3:48 pm on July 23, 2010, Lowell Police and EMS responded to 342 Westford Street for a report that two females had been stabbed and were seriously injured.  Both victims were transported to the hospital where they later died from their injuries. The victims were identified as Keyla Betancourt, 30, of Lowell, and Deborah Souza, 47, of Lowell. 
           
The investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly went to the victims’ residence and stabbed them after a dispute over drugs.  Evidence presented during the trial indicated Nunez and the victims were arguing over 80 dollars worth of cocaine.

 An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the cause of death for both victims was determined to be from multiple stab wounds.

The defendant was arrested at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington on July 26, 2010 where he was admitted for injuries.  He was arraigned in his hospital bed on July 27 where Judge Michael Brooks held the defendant without bail.

The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the case are Thomas O’Reilly, Alice Casey, and Jamie Charles.  The Victim Witness Advocates are Anne Foley and Katie Keefe.  This case was investigated by the Lowell Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.