LYNN, Mass. (TCN) — A 26-year-old man stands accused of killing his brother’s girlfriend and her unborn child after the victim’s boyfriend allegedly assaulted her.
According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, on July 31, Lynn Police responded to a home and found 25-year-old Brianna Welsh deceased with apparent sharp force injuries. She was three months pregnant at the time, MassLive reports.
Prosecutors allege Zachary Vozzella fatally stabbed Welsh while his brother, Brendon Vozzella, was in custody on suspicion of assault and battery in a separate domestic violence incident. According to WHDH-TV, Brendon Vozzella allegedly hit Welsh in the stomach during that incident.
Brendon Vozzella remained held for six hours and was released but allegedly failed to return home that day. MassLive reports that Zachary Vozzella had been residing with his brother and Welsh for a “couple of months” at the time of the stabbing.
According to MassLive, after the fatal attack, Zachary Vozzella left the apartment before the supervisor and a maintenance worker discovered Welsh on the bedroom floor with a laceration to her neck. Officers reportedly observed wounds to her legs, as well as cuts in her clothing and abdomen. Authorities also noticed bloodstains near Welsh’s body.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Zachary Vozzella arriving at another apartment location, where officials later found Welsh’s apartment key fob, a bloody kitchen knife, and bloody clothes in a trash bag.
Zachary Vozzella appeared in court for his arraignment on Aug. 1 on a charge of murder. He pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail. Prosecutors said Brendan Vozzella was scheduled to return to court for his charges on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said, “The tragic violence that has taken the life of Brianna Welsh and her unborn child has created an unbearable loss for her family. While their loss cannot be repaired or remedied, I hope that our efforts to seek justice on her behalf assures them that we and the community support them.”