By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Northfield, MA) Update 3: The state has officially dropped the 19 charges against William Willey, the man who died in the Northfield fire on Sunday. Willey, 47 from Montague, was found in the building fire on East Street in Northfield Sunday evening was the defendant in a child sexual assault trial. The trial began last Thursday and was set to resume Monday. Judge Karen Goodwin dismissed the jury Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire and Willey’s death are still under investigation, although foul play is not suspected at the moment.
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Update 2: The man who was found in the building fire on East Street in Northfield Sunday evening was the defendant in a child sexual assault trial. The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has identified the man as William Willey, 47, from Montague. Willey was on trial for 19 charges related to child sexual assault reports in 2019 and 2020. The trial began last Thursday and was set to resume Monday. First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne said the fire was “curious timing…but it’s premature to say that it’s suspicious.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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Update: One adult has been confirmed dead after the fire at 90 East Street in Northfield Sunday evening. In a statement from the Northfield Fire Department, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Northwestern District Attorney, they announced one person had been found inside the building and was pronounced dead at the scene. The fire started in a repair shop and destroyed the building, also causing damage to nearby property. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
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At 7:02 p.m. Sunday evening there were reports of a fully involved, second alarm fire on East Street in Northfield. More details to come.