Suspects Arraigned in 2010 Beating Death of Kelly DeMarco of Belchertown

Lennox Williams, 19, of Belchertown, was arraigned  in Hampshire Superior Court today on an indictment charging him with manslaughter in connection with the June 17, 2010 death of Kelly D. DeMarco, 44, of Belchertown. 

Williams is alleged to have struck DeMarco with a punch that caused DeMarco to fall and strike his head on the pavement behind the Lord Jeffery Apartments, at 121 Main Street in Belchertown.  DeMarco was rushed to Baystate Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short while later.   

Judge Cornelius J. Moriarty set bail for Williams at $50,000 cash or $500,000 surety.  Williams is currently held at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction.  He faces a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in state prison on the manslaughter indictment.

Co-defendant Julie McKenzie, 23, of Amherst, was also arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court today on indictments charging her with being an accessory after the fact to DeMarco’s death and witness intimidation.

McKenzie is alleged to have helped Williams flee the scene, after which she harbored him at her residence and later misled the police in their investigation.  

The Commonwealth, represented by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas, argued for $5,000 cash bail on McKenzie, but the Court released her on personal recognizance with conditions that she have no contact with any prosecution witnesses in the case.  McKenzie faces a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in state prison on the witness intimidation indictment, and seven years in state prison on the accessory indictment.

The defendants are due back in Superior Court on Feb. 2, 2012 for a pre-trial hearing.

The Hampshire County Grand Jury has also returned indictments against Kalem Daniels, 27, of Belchertown, charging him with manslaughter by joint venture and witness intimidation in connection with DeMarco’s death.  A warrant has issued for his arrest.   

The indictments come after an intensive 13-month investigation conducted jointly by the Belchertown Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.