Charges reduced for woman accused of threatening journalist

WRENTHAM — Prosecutors have reduced charges against a woman who allegedly threatened a newspaper journalist.

Prosecutor Courtney Kiernan said at a hearing in Wrentham District Court on Monday that 64-year-old Amy Zuckerman would not be indicted for making terroristic threats. The prosecutor filed a motion to amend the charge to threatening to commit a crime, a misdemeanor. Zuckerman’s lawyer didn’t argue against the motion and the judge approved it.

Zuckerman of Shutesbury was arrested in July after police say she sent an email to a Walpole Times reporter that referenced shooting through the window of the newsroom. Police say the threat was in response to the reporter asking to be removed from an email list.

Her lawyer previously said her comments were taken out of context.

Crowbar flies through SUV windshield, killing driver

SPENCER — Authorities say a prominent defense attorney was killed when a crowbar flew through the windshield of his SUV and struck him in the head.

Police say 63-year-old John Madaio, of Paxton, was driving east on Route 9 in Spencer at about 10 a.m. Monday when a crowbar either fell from another vehicle or was kicked up and went through the windshield.

Madaio’s vehicle left the roadway, struck a parked car and went over an embankment before it came to a stop.

Madaio was taken to Harrington Hospital where he later died. He had previously worked for the Worcester district attorney’s office.

Authorities release ID of woman found dead in car trunk

WORCESTER — Authorities have released the name of the woman found dead in the trunk of a car pulled over in Maine last week.

The Worcester district attorney on Monday identified 28-year-old Maddilyn Burgess, of Sturbridge, as the victim of what authorities describe as a murder-suicide.

Burgess’ body was found in the trunk of a car driven by Gyrth Rutan, of Sturbridge, after a traffic stop on Interstate 295 in Gardiner, Maine, last Thursday.

After being pulled over, police say Rutan pulled out a shotgun and killed himself. The medical examiner in Maine determined Burgess died of blunt force injuries.

Authorities did not disclose the relationship between Rutan and Burgess.

From Associated Press