2 arraigned in savage attack; Ghastly home invasion scene described.

PositionNEWS

Byline: Scott J. Croteau

WORCESTER - One woman was beaten in the head with a dumbbell. The second was found in a pool of blood in the kitchen, a stab wound in her chest. A 10-inch knife had been thrust into her neck all the way to its handle.

Inside the Lovell Street apartment was also the lifeless body of Javier Maldonado, a 32-year-old man who was strangled during what authorities are calling a coordinated and brutal home invasion.

All three victims had their legs, hands and necks bound.

During the arraignment yesterday of two people charged in the home invasion, Assistant District Attorney Terrence M. Reidy detailed the alleged plan to rob the family of drugs and valuables and the savage attack that occurred about 11:55 p.m. on May 12.

"They were bound and beaten for narcotics, money and jewelry," Mr. Reidy said.

Noel Inoa, 27, of 53 Suffolk St., and Jose Marrero-Rodriguez, 33, of 98 Pine St., Southbridge, are accused of killing Mr. Maldonado and attacking two women, one 38 and the other 18, inside the first-floor apartment at 326 Lovell St.

Barbara Marrero-Rodriguez, 32, the sister of Mr. Marrero-Rodriguez, is accused of lying to police and possessing an illegal firearm. Authorities believe she helped plan the robbery.

Mr. Reidy said the two men waited for the family inside a lobby area in the building and ambushed them. The victims had just returned from a family gathering.

The scene was discovered after a passer-by alerted police that a 3-month-old baby in an infant car seat was in the middle of Lovell Street. Police began searching for the child's family. They ended up at 326 Lovell St.

"They heard from ... inside that apartment, groaning, moaning as if people were in distress," the prosecutor said. Police knocked down the door to find the horrific scene.

No explanation of how the baby boy ended up in the street was given yesterday in Central District Court.

The prosecutor said police found that the victims had been "accosted, they were ambushed with firearms; they were forced into their apartment where they were attacked."

A search of the Lovell Street apartment led to the discovery of drugs, police said.

Mr. Maldonado was bound and lifeless. Police then found the 38-year-old woman, also bound. She had a head wound that investigators believe was caused by an exercise weight.

"She was alive and conscious but in critical condition," Mr. Reidy said.

Police continued searching. They found the 18-year-old woman in the kitchen, surrounded...

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