Police responded to the couple’s Vinton Street home for a report of a domestic dispute. Watch video
This is the 26 Vinton St. home of Beverly Caldwell and the late Joel Echols, who she allegedly stabbed to death.This is an updated version of a story posted at 9:33 this morning.
SPRINGFIELD – What started out as a domestic dispute Saturday became the fourth murder of the year in the city Sunday.
Joel Echols, 45, of Springfield was allegedly stabbed in the chest by his wife Beverly Caldwell, 41, of Springfield, late Saturday, Police Lt. Robert Moynihan said.
Police responded to 26 Vinton St. at 11:40 p.m. for a domestic dispute. Echols was found with a stab wound to the chest. He was taken to Baystate Medical Center where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, Moynihan said.
Caldwell was charged shortly afterward with murder and is being held without bail in Springfield, Police Capt. William P. Collins said. She is due be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Tuesday due to the fact that courts are closed today because of the Presidents Day holiday.
A woman who identified herself as Echols’ cousin, Giselle Dudley Echols, of Springfield, told a reporter that the couple had dated for a long time before officially marrying a few years ago. While they had been together for a long time, they had their ups and downs, she said.
Echols was raised by his father Willie Echols, who died about two years ago, she said.
“His mother died when he was very young and he and his two brothers were raised by their dad,” she said. “Family was very important to him.”
She called Echols a very gentle person.
“He had a soft spot for his family and his wife,” she said.
This is the city’s fourth murder this year.
On Jan. 26 David Acevedo lll, 24, was fatally shot near 49 Riverton Road in the Pine Point neighborhood. Within 12 hours, police charged 18-year-old city resident Jerel L. Brunson with the murder. A second suspect, 21-year-old Daniel J. Rosa, turned himself in to Capt. Dillon at the rear of police headquarters a short time later.
On Jan. 28, 23-year-old Darin Negron was fatally shot in the city’s Old Hill neighborhood. He was found near the back porch of a home on Melrose St. and was pronounced dead around 1 a.m. at the Baystate Medical Center. No arrests have been made in that case yet.
On Feb. 12 Pedro Osorio, 24, was shot and killed in a van and then his body was left near 40 James St. No arrests have been made in that case.
There were 16 homicides in Springfield last year with an overall 29 homicides reported throughout the Pioneer Valley.