Massachusetts

Relative Names Victim Stabbed By Female Relative in Ayer

More information is being learned about the death of a young man whom authorities say was fatally stabbed by a female relative with a kitchen knife in an apartment in Ayer, Massachusetts on Friday.

The victim was named by a relative as Jonathan Merritt, 24. The Middlesex District Attorney's office has not yet released the names of anyone from the incident.

Investigators have told NBC10 Boston that the suspect stayed at the scene and was the one who called 911. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said the victim was found with a stab wound and taken to Nashoba Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The attack, being called a domestic incident, happened in a second-floor apartment at Zodiac Village on Groton School Road. Ryan said a 26-year-old woman who lives in the apartment stabbed the man with a large kitchen knife shortly after 1 p.m. The woman was arrested at the scene.

The DA's office confirmed the victim was related to the suspect. A relative of both tells NBC10 Boston the two are cousins.

"Only thing I know is that she stabbed him, but why or how, I have no idea," the relative said, adding that the victim has had struggles with drugs.

The relative says both have children.

"That's two lives gone," the man said. "She's going to jail and he's dead. For what?"

Neighbor Corey Robinson said he heard a woman and a man screaming.

"It was mostly a man, like a man screaming like his life was being taken," Robinson said.

One neighbor remembered the victim kindly.

“Jon was a nice guy," said neighbor Diane Gendron on Saturday. "He played with the kids all the time in the backyard. He used to be a babysitter.”

The woman has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. She is expected to be arraigned Monday in Ayer District Court.

Contact Us