Man Convicted In Connection With Woburn Stabbing And Carjacking

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that a Connecticut man was convicted of charges today in connection with a stabbing and carjacking that took place outside of a Woburn movie theater on September 6, 2011.

Chantha Chau, 23, of New London, Connecticut was convicted by Superior Court Judge Thomas Billings on charges of assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, armed robbery, armed carjacking, and larceny of a motor vehicle. Judge Billings scheduled sentencing for Chau for 2 p.m., Monday, February 2.

“This victim was viciously attacked,” said District Attorney Ryan. “He was sitting in his car, waiting for a friend to arrive, when out of nowhere this defendant, a stranger to him, approached and asked for a cigarette. Suddenly, the defendant pulled out a knife and began stabbing the victim. It was the sheer will to live that led to the victim to get away from this defendant after being stabbed, chased, and tackled to the ground.”

Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo adds, “This case has come to an appropriate conclusion. Evidence was gathered over a number of months by detectives and patrolmen from the Woburn Police Department assisted by investigators from many departments who worked together. We are grateful to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, and our colleagues in New London, Connecticut for diligently investigating this incident with our department.”

According to authorities, the victim was sitting in his 2000 Ford Crown Victoria outside of the Showcase Cinema in Woburn at approximately 10 p.m., on September 6, 2011. The victim, Charles Northrup, told police that the window of his car was down and he was in the vehicle waiting for a friend to arrive to then go watch a movie. Northrup said that Chau approached the car, made a gesture with his hand like Chau wanted to borrow a cigarette, and when Northrup reached to get a cigarette, Chau began to stab him.

Evidence presented during trial showed that Northrup was stabbed in the neck before managing to escape from the car by crawling across the passenger seat and exiting on the passenger side. Chau then chased Northrup through the parking lot, tackling Northrup, and continuing to stab Northrup. Northrup broke free and then Chau fled the scene in the victim’s car.

Northrup was immediately hospitalized after the attack, had surgery for life-threatening injuries, and was hospitalized for about three weeks.

Police later recovered Northrup’s stolen car in New London, Connecticut.

Months later, on April 23, 2012, Woburn Police Officer John O’Conner noticed an abandoned car with flat tires parked at the Holiday Inn, which is located adjacent to the movie theater. Upon investigation, police discovered that the car was registered to an owner in New London, close to where the stolen vehicle had been recovered. Authorities also were able to locate Chau’s name on a discarded receipt found within the vehicle. Both the owner of the vehicle and Chau were found to live in the same residence. Upon further analysis, officers discovered that Chau looked similar to a composite sketch created as a result of the victim’s description of the assailant. Finger print evidence from the stolen car also came back as a match for Chau.

A warrant was issued and Chau was arrested on May 9, 2012.

The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Lisa Fuccione. The Victim Witness Advocate is Danielle DeMeo.