WORCESTER — A Worcester County grand jury handed up indictments today charging a Ware man with four counts of murder in the deaths of a mother and her three children in their West Brookfield home, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Mathew Locke, 32, of 20 Eddy St., Ware was charged in the slayings of Sara Bermudez, 38, Madison Bermudez, 8, James Bermudez, 6, and Michael Bermudez, 2. Their bodies were found about 3:30 p.m. on March 1 in their home at 10 Old Warren Road, West Brookfield. There was evidence that there had been a fire in the home that extinguished itself.
Mr. Locke also was indicted for armed burglary, and arson of a dwelling. Mr. Locke was charged in September with four counts of murder and arraigned in East Brookfield District Court. He is being held without bail.
Today’s indictments move the case to Worcester Superior Court where Mr. Locke will be arraigned anew at a future date. He had previously been indicted on four counts of misleading a police investigation in connection with this case. Those charges remain open in Superior Court.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher P. Hodgens and Brett F. Dillon are prosecuting the case. Worcester County State Police Detective Charles Murphy is the case officer. The State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and West Brookfield Police continue to investigate the homicides.