Crime & Safety
Worcester Man Convicted Of Murder In 2020 Stabbing
A Worcester County jury convicted Benjamin Willie of second-degree murder in the 2020 fatal stabbing of Josue Rios.
WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester man has been convicted of murder in a 2020 stabbing that began after a tire-slashing incident in the city's Grafton Hill neighborhood.
Benjamin Willie, 26, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Josue Rios, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. Officials said that Willie stabbed Rios on June 30, 2020, after Rios confronted him while Willie was slashing the tires of vehicles parked in the neighborhood.
Rios was taken to UMass Memorial Hospital and later died from his injuries, prosecutors said.
Willie was also found guilty of two counts of malicious destruction of a motor vehicle.
Willie was first charged and arraigned in Worcester Central District Court on July 1, 2020, on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and destruction of property. After Rios died, the assault charge was upgraded to second-degree murder, according to DA Early.
Worcester County grand jury indicted Willie on Nov. 12, 2020. Sentencing is scheduled for July 28.
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