Easthampton woman pleads guilty in stabbing death of boyfriend

An Easthampton woman pleaded guilty Monday to fatally stabbing her boyfriend, according to court documents.

Jean-Marie EchevarriaThe 24-year-old man pleaded not guilty after authorities charged him with involuntary manslaughter in 2023. An affidavit filed by Easthampton police said Echevarria was arrested on March 14, 2023, at an apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Brennan Bleau.

“You took a human life,” the victim’s mother, Paula Bleau, told Echevarria in court Monday. Bulk Live reported.

Police said they received a report of a “disturbance” at 2 Culdaff Street around 3.30am. Police said when they arrived at the scene, they found blood in the snow surrounding the home and leading to the front door. Inside the apartment, Bleau was lying on the floor with “numerous wounds” on his torso, the report said.

Officers also found Echevarria in the apartment and asked him to describe what happened. According to the report, the woman told the police that she had a physical altercation with Bleau and used a kitchen knife to defend herself, and pointed to the knife she used.

Police said they observed Bleau with five stab wounds to his chest, abdomen, shoulder and triceps area. First responders transported him to Baystate Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries at 4:52 a.m., police said.

Echevarria wrote a statement that was read in court by his attorney, MassLive reported.

“I never wanted this to happen… It was never my intention,” the letter said.

According to prosecutors’ sentencing recommendation, Echevarria faces 16 to 19 years in prison. A representative for Echevarria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Eva Levin is Boston.com’s general assignment co-op. Covering breaking and local news from Boston and beyond.

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