The family of a pregnant Massachusetts woman is mourning her loss after authorities allege she was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend’s brother. Essex County District Attorney’s OfficeBrianna Welsh, 25, who was reportedly about three months pregnant, was found dead in her Lynn, Massachusetts, apartment on Wednesday, July 31.
The district attorney’s office said that just one day before Welsh was found dead, her ex-boyfriend, Brendon Vozzella, was arrested by Lynn police following a report of alleged domestic violence. Deputy District Attorney Kate MacDougall revealed in court Thursday, Aug. 1, that Brendon allegedly punched his ex-girlfriend in the stomach and was taken into police custody around 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Welsh was later taken to a nearby hospital and returned to her apartment at 6:15 p.m., while Brendon remained in police custody.
Zachary Vozzella, Brendon’s 26-year-old brother, had been staying with the couple. According to MacDougall, Zachary returned to the apartment while Welsh was home and allegedly stabbed her to death, leaving her with multiple stab wounds. NBC10 Boston reported
Prosecutors have stated that Brendon did not return to the apartment after his arrest and is not believed to have killed Welsh. As the investigation continued, police allegedly found bloody clothing and a kitchen knife in a trash bag at another apartment where Zachary had also been staying.
Brendon was arraigned Wednesday on one count of assault and battery on a family member and one count of assault and battery on a pregnant person. His next court appearance will be Tuesday, Aug. 6. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or hired an attorney.
On Thursday, Zachary pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in Lynn District Court and was held without bail. Zachary’s attorney, Francisco Napolitano, told WHDH that his client denies killing anyone. Zachary is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial probable cause hearing on Sept. 10, according to the court. Boston Globe.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker stated“The tragic violence that took the life of Brianna Welsh and her unborn child has been an unbearable loss for her family. While their loss cannot be repaired or remedied, I hope that our efforts to seek justice on their behalf will assure them that we and the community stand with them.”
Following Welsh’s death, her family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses. In the fundraising campaign’s description, Claudia Welsh wrote that the 25-year-old was excited to have her baby. “We are raising funds to help memorialize our beautiful daughter, Brianna E. Welsh, also known as Bri Bri, and her unborn child,” the GoFundMe description reads. “Brianna was anxious this week to find out and share with her family and friends if her baby was going to be a boy or a girl.”
“Tragically, she was taken from us and murdered in her own home. Without her, we are all lost,” the page continues. “She was a shining star that was extinguished before her time.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit lalineadirecta.orgAll calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages.
