SOUTH HADLEY, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — An arrest has been made in connection with the December 11th robbery of the Westfield Bank in South Hadley. 26 year-old Rosa Murillo of Springfield was arrested Friday night and has pleaded not guilty to charges of armed robbery and making a bomb threat. Murillo is being held without the right to bail under the dangerousness statute.
From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office:
Springfield woman charged in South Hadley bank robbery
A Springfield woman arrested Friday night in connection with a bank robbery in South Hadley on Dec. 11 faced related charges in court today.
Rosa Murillo, 26, pleaded not guilty to charges of armed robbery and making a bomb threat before Eastern Hampshire District Court Judge Bruce Melikian.
The charges stem from an incident in which Murillo allegedly went into the Westfield Bank on Willimansett Street in South Hadley and told a teller to give her $5,000 or a bomb would go off. Following a multi-department investigation, Amtrack Police arrested Murillo on Friday night in Springfield.
Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington handled the arraignment for the Commonwealth. Murillo was represented by Amherst defense attorney Everal Herny. By agreement, Murillo was held without the right to bail under the dangerousness statute without prejudice, which means she can return to court to readdress bail.
“Investigators worked around the clock to identify and apprehend the defendant. The Commonwealth thanks the South Hadley Police Department, Chicopee and Holyoke Police, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section, the Hampden County Sherriff’s Department, and the Amtrack Police Department for their work on this investigation, ” said ADA Covington.
Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.