Cambridge Man Charged In Fatal Belle Isle Marsh Assault

A Cambridge man who had previously been convicted of assaulting an elderly man at the Belle Isle Marsh Reservation has been charged with the fatal assault of an 83-year-old man at the same location just days prior.

Michael Bruzzese, 52, has been charged with manslaughter and unarmed robbery of a person over 60 in the May 29, 2016 assault on Daniel Pepe. Pepe, of East Boston, died three days later, the same day Bruzzese assaulted a 67-year-0ld Lynn man at the marsh.

Bruzzese was apprehended by the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section Tuesday morning in Cambridge, where he has a temporary residence. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Bruzzese's alleged assault on Pepe took place in the same area of the marsh where he assaulted the Lynn man, prosecutors said. Pepe was found on a bench suffering injuries to his face and head, but he couldn't tell medical technicians what happened. His car was found in the reservation's parking lot, but he didn't have his keys. Pepe was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he died on June 1.

June 1 was the date Bruzzese struck the Lynn man and demanded his car keys, prosecutors said. Bruzzese pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in a house of corrections. He was released about two weeks before the new indictments were returned.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on Dec. 20 returned indictments charging Bruzzese in Pepe's assault and robbery.

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