$250,000 bail for Lynn man charged with Jamaica Plain home invasion, attempted murder
BOSTON, December 8, 2022 —A Lynn man is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail today after being charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to rape, strangulation and other charges stemming from an daytime October home invasion in Jamaica Plain, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
WASHINGTON PEARSON, 55, was charged in West Roxbury BMC with attempted murder, home invasion, felony breaking and entering in the daytime, larceny from a building, assault with intent to rape, strangulation and armed robbery. Judge Margaret Albertson ordered Pearson held on $250,000 bail, and, if posted, ordered GPS monitoring with home confinement and to stay away from the victims.
Pearson will return to court January 6 for a probable cause hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy said that on October 24 police responded to a 911 call on the Arborway in Jamaica Plain. The caller said a man had broken into her house and robbed, strangled and raped her. Police observed that the front door was open and the frame splintered, consistent with having been pried open. The victim told police her attacker was armed with a large flathead screwdriver.
Detectives canvassed the area for surveillance cameras, and secured footage showing a man matching the description provided by the victim traveling away from the crime scene. Two days after the attack, detectives recovered video from a nearby store that showed what appeared to be the same person. Photos from the video were distributed to area police departments and the news media. As a result, Pearson was identified, and an arrest warrant was issued.
Pearson was arrested in Norfolk, Virginia last week. Police recovered from Pearson a large flathead screwdriver, similar to the one described by the victim. Pearson told members of the Boston Police Fugitive Unit that, prior to his apprehension, he had planned to get a gun and initiate a “suicide by cop.” He also said he had contemplated attempting the same thing with his screwdriver when he was apprehended, but was outnumbered by arresting officers.
Pearson has more than 190 entries on his criminal record, many for violent crimes.
“This is an extremely traumatic experience for the victim and we’re grateful for the information she was able to share with police in order to help identify this individual and get him into custody. His actions at the scene and his statements to police make clear the dangers he poses to the public,” Hayden said.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications