Man arraigned in murder-for-hire plot while in jail

 Westfield man arraigned on solicitation to commit murder charges; connected to 2019 slaying in Westfield

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2021

Contact: Laurie Loisel, Director of Communication and Outreach: (413) 374-7604; laurie.loisel@state.ma.us

NORTHAMPTON – A Westfield man being held at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction while awaiting trial in connection with the 2019 slaying of his girlfriend, was arraigned on three criminal counts based on an alleged plot to kill the prosecutor and a witness in that case.

Blake Scanlon, 26 pleaded not guilty to two counts of solicitation to commit murder and one count of solicitation to intimidate a witness before Hampshire Superior Court Judge John Agostini Thursday afternoon.

Scanlon had been in jail awaiting trial on a charge of murder in connection with the slaying of Alexis Avery, 20, in January of 2019. The two lived together and had a child together.

Scanlon was represented in court by Marissa Elkins, who is also his attorney in the Hampden County murder case.

Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne represented the Commonwealth at the arraignment.

The alleged murder-for-hire scheme dates back to 2020 and the targets were Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Green, the prosecutor in Scanlon’s murder case, and witness Ericalynn Condurcari. In the plot, Scanlon is alleged to have recruited a fellow inmate at the house of correction to arrange for someone to carry out the murders. Part of the plot included instructions to intimidate Condurcari, a witness in the murder case, from testifying, if the murder could not be arranged.

The plot came to the attention of authorities when the inmate Scanlon allegedly recruited disclosed the plot.

Scanlon’s case was continued to Aug. 10. He remains in jail while awaiting trial on the murder case.

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