New Details Emerge About Marblehead Murder

Photo caption: John Devine. Photo credit: 7News.

A 28-year-old Marblehead man was arraigned in Lynn District Court Monday on the charge that he murdered his girlfriend over the weekend.

Judge Cathleen Campbell ordered John Devine, 28, of 27 Sparhawk Terrace, Marblehead, to be held without bail, according to the the Essex County District Attorney’s office.

Devine pleaded not guilty in the murder of Tanya Nichols, 51.

Marblehead Police and Emergency Services responded to the Sparhawk Terrace residence at 11:17 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 21 about a report of a possible dead body.

Nichols was reportedly found in a large pool of blood behind a partially open bedroom door. She had suffered head wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the DA’s office.

Nichols and Devine reportedly got into an argument on Friday evening, according to a witness, who also said she saw Nichols on Saturday “lying on the floor of her bedroom, but did not note any serious injuries,” said the DA’s office.

The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death as “blunt force trauma to the head.”

This is not the first alleged domestic violence case involving Devine. He was charged with assault, threatening to commit a crime and malicious destruction of property in a case that also involved Nichols on Nov. 17, said the DA’s office.

At that time, Devine was released with a bail warning and was “ordered not to abuse the victim. The Commonwealth requested $1500 cash bail and that he be ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the victim. That request was denied,” said the DA’s office.

Devine is scheduled to next appear in Lynn District Court for a Probable Cause Hearing on Feb. 2.

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