North Dartmouth man charged with stabbing girlfriend to death in Chelsea

BOSTON, May 9, 2023 - A North Dartmouth man was ordered held without bail today in Chelsea District Court after being charged with the stabbing death of Margarita Morehead, 59, at an apartment on Lafayette Street in Chelsea yesterday, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

ANGEL T. ALVAREZ, 65, is charged with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.  Judge Christopher Henry ordered Alvarez held without bail. Alvarez will return to court June 12 for a probable cause hearing.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy said that at about 9:56 a.m. on Monday Chelsea police responded to a call at 44 Lafayette Avenue and found Morehead, unresponsive, in a pool of blood. Officers noted Morehead to have suffered several stab wounds. Morehead was pronounced dead at Cambridge Health Alliance in Everett.

Investigators learned that the victim was dating a man later identified as Alvarez. A witness told investigators that the man the victim was dating drives a red car with a mismatched hood. Alvarez’s vehicle is a red car with a black hood.

Investigators then located Alvarez’s vehicle, unoccupied, at the intersection of Addison and Eden streets in Chelsea. From outside the vehicle, investigators observed brown stains on the interior and exterior which appeared to be blood.

Later in the evening, Alvarez contacted Chelsea Dispatch to request medical attention and said he wanted to turn himself into police custody. Alvarez provided his location on Route 16 in Everett. Massachusetts state troopers along with Chelsea Police officers responded to the location and placed Alvarez into custody. He was transported to the Chelsea Police Department for booking.

During an audio-video recorded interview at Chelsea Police Department, Alvarez admitted to investigators that he had stabbed his girlfriend, Margarita M. Morehead, multiple times after she attempted to end the relationship.

“Instead of dealing with the reality of an ended relationship with restraint and dignity, this man chose a shocking act of violence that ended Margarita Morehead’s life and ushered in eternal grief for her family, friends and relatives. They will receive all the support they need from our office as this case moves forward,” Hayden said.

The victims of any crime, including domestic or sexual violence, should call 911 in an emergency.  SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020.  SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24/7 in English, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 870-521-2601.  It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages. Help is also available at www.janedoe.org/findhelp. 

Help is also available for members of our LGBTQ+ community experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901. 

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications

SCDAO