Boyfriend Charged In September Death Of Tewksbury Woman

TEWKSBURY, MA — The boyfriend of a Tewksbury woman who was found dead in her home in September was indicted on charges of first degree murder, prosecutors announced Friday. Police arrested Eric Griffin, 40, on Sep. 15, after the body of Jennifer Kalicki, 39, was found in the Archstone apartment complex in Tewksbury. He was charged following a months-long grand jury investigation, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office announced.

Griffin was charged with first degree murder, strangulation and domestic assault and battery in connection with Kalicki's death, and another count of domestic assault and battery and intimidation of a witness in connection with a March assault on Kalicki, prosecutors said in a release.

After Kalicki was found dead, Griffin was charged with assault and battery on a household or family member. The chief medical examiner determined that Kalicki's death was caused by blunt force trauma, with "injuries to her body and neck as well as blunt force trauma to the head that resulted in a fatal brain bleed."

Prosecutors said that Griffin intimidated Kalicki in relation to a prior court proceeding.

"Over the course of the months long Grand Jury investigation into the death of Ms. Kalicki, investigators were able to gather additional information regarding a March 16 incident where the defendant had allegedly physically attacked Ms. Kalicki and was subsequently charged with one count of domestic assault and battery," the release reads.

"That case was ultimately dismissed, prior to the September 11 trial date, after the victim, Ms. Kalicki, asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege. Over the course of the subsequent investigation into this matter additional evidence was gathered that reflected an escalation in violence by the defendant against Ms. Kalicki and further revealed that the defendant allegedly convinced the victim to assert her privilege prior to the trial for the March assault."

Griffin is being held without bail, after he was found to be dangerous on Sept. 20. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on Jan. 7.

See also: Tewksbury Woman Remembered As Caring, Driven

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.