Crime & Safety
Worcester DA Charges Man With Murder After June Slaying
Joseph Bottis was found dead at a Main Street shopping plaza in June. He died of blunt injuries to the skull, an autopsy found.
WORCESTER, MA — A local man has been charged with murder following a suspicious death at a Webster shopping plaza in June, according to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office.
Joseph Bottis, 39, was found dead at a 116 Main St. shopping plaza on June 17. An autopsy later found that he died of skull fractures caused by blunt force trauma, according to officials.
Bernard Cusson Jr., 51, has been charged with murder in Bottis' death. He'll be arraigned on that charge on July 19.
Cusson was in custody on Wednesday after he was arrested on the day of Bottis' killing on gun and stolen property charges, according to the district attorney.
Bottis was a homeless resident of Webster, and was well liked around the community, according to his brother, Jacob Luckhart.
"Many will remember his kind greetings around the town. Some may remember that he had bipolar disorder. He had a hard life coupled with his mental illness, so he fell into trouble from time to time and is no stranger to homelessness. Joe would never hurt anyone, so it is a shame to see his life taken from him," Luckhart said in a GoFundMe appeal raising money for Bottis' funeral costs.
