HATFIELD — A grand jury issued indictments against two Northampton women in connection with the death of Daniel Cruz, whose burning, deceased body was found in Hatfield in March.
Alondra E. Gil, 22, has been indicted on a charge of perjury, and Mercedes Diaz-Wright, 22, has been indicted for misleading a police officer. The indictments were issued by a Hampshire County Grand Jury.
The court issued arrest warrants for both defendants, who were arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court Wednesday. Bail was set at $3,500 for Gil and $10,000 for Diaz-Wright.
The death of Cruz, 44, of Northampton, is being investigated as a homicide by the state police detectives unit of the district attorney’s office.
His body was found when Hatfield firefighters were called to a field off Bridge Lane for a reported fire at around 9:30 p.m. March 10. Bridge Lane turns into a dirt road leading to the dike bordering the Connecticut River.
According to his death certificate, Cruz died from gunshot wounds to the torso and neck. “Thermal injuries” were listed as contributing factors, but did not cause his death.
Diaz-Wright’s next date in court is May 16 for a bail hearing. Gil’s next date in court is June 23 for a pre-trial hearing.
The investigation into Cruz’s death is ongoing.