Tewksbury Man Convicted Of Murder In Domestic Violence Case: DA

TEWKSBURY, MA — A man was convicted on a first-degree murder charge in connection with a 2019 killing in Tewksbury, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Tewksbury Chief of Police Ryan Columbus.

A Middlesex Superior Court jury convicted Eric Griffin, 43, of Tewksbury, on charges of first-degree murder, strangulation, two counts of domestic assault and battery and battery and intimidation of a witness.

The case involves the death of Jennifer Kalicki, 39 of Tewksbury. Local police contacted state police Sept. 15, 2019, reporting a suspicious death at an apartment complex on Archstone Avenue in Tewksbury. Police arrived to find Kalicki unresponsive in bed with Griffin.

She had sustained significant injuries consistent with a physical assault and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement. Griffin was arrested later that day and charged with assault and battery on a household or family member.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruled that the cause of Kalicki's death was blunt force trauma. Kalicki had sustained injuries to her body and neck as well as blunt force trauma to the head that resulted in a fatal brain bleed, according to the statement.

“This verdict signifies our commitment to holding perpetrators of domestic violence accountable and exemplifies the good work of the team of prosecutors and police who spent weeks investigating this case in the Grand Jury and who dedicated themselves to gathering additional evidence that demonstrated the pattern of violence being inflicted upon the victim," Ryan said in a statement.

"I am extremely proud of the officers and detectives who responded to this call as they did all that they could do to ensure justice would be served," Columbus said in a statement. "The horrific images from the day of Jennifer Kalicki's death have remained with me. It was emotional to be in the courtroom and to see Jennifer's family get some peace.”

Investigators found evidence showing a history of past abuse and escalating violence against the victim. Griffin was indicted on first-degree murder, strangulation, and domestic assault and battery charges in December 2019.

Kalicki had previously paid $250 bail for Griffin on drug charges Sept. 11, 2019. Just days before that, a domestic violence case against Griffin involving Kalicki as the victim was dismissed.

Griffin is scheduled for sentencing July 27.

See related: Tewksbury Woman Begged Attacker's Sister For Help: Prosecutors