2 arrested in missing teen case; Last sighting at Motel 6.

PositionLOCAL NEWS

Byline: Kim Ring

WORCESTER - Two people have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a Worcester teenager who has been missing since March 14.

James Howze, 19, of 37 Harvard Ave., Providence, and Lara Corey, 22, of 27 Boston Turnpike Road, Westboro, were arrested in Colonie, N.Y., Wednesday night on fugitive from justice charges, according to a spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

The alleged victim, Joseph P. Webster, 19, of Brattle St., Worcester, had not been found as of last night and family members are very concerned. Mr. Webster is mildly autistic and is also diabetic, requiring daily insulin injections.

Mr. Webster was seen at the Motel 6 in Northboro some time after his family reported him missing to Worcester police March 14, which was around the same time that Ms. Corey was staying at the motel.

The district attorney said Mr. Howze is facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a knife, and larceny of a motor vehicle. Ms. Corey has been charged with larceny of a motor vehicle. Warrants for both had been issued as a result of the investigation and the district attorney is working to have the two returned to Massachusetts to be arraigned in Westboro District Court. It is unclear when that may happen.

Mr. Webster's uncle, Gerardo Sarli, who runs Gerardo's Bakery on West Boylston Street, said the family is worried because his nephew did not have enough insulin with him to have survived from the time he was missing until now. He said the teenager is fastidious about his health care and he "never spent a night away from home.

"He's a very kind kid," Mr. Sarli said. "He's had a girlfriend for two years and she is just devastated."

He said some members of their large Italian family - Mr. Webster is one of 17 grandchildren on his mother's side - had been hanging missing person posters at stores near Motel 6.

Mr. Webster's mother, Amalia Webster, said she is distraught over the disappearance of her youngest child, who has the maturity of a 14- or 15-year-old because of his autism. She said he was diagnosed with diabetes at age 9 and is very careful about monitoring his condition and staying healthy.

"I just want to have him brought home," she said.

During the investigation, state police detectives from the Worcester district attorney's office focused on the Motel 6 on Route 9 in Northboro. On Tuesday, they gathered evidence in and around the motel and concentrated on Room 214, where...

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