No Bail in DV Double Homicide
BOSTON, May 3, 2021— The man accused of killing 28-year-old Fatima Yasin and 42-year-old Jahaira DeAlto was ordered held without bail today, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.
MARCUS CHAVIS, 35, of Dorchester was arraigned today in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court on two counts of murder and one count of animal cruelty. At the request of District Attorney Ian Polumbaum, Judge Thomas Kaplanes ordered Mr. Chavis held without bail.
ADA Polumbaum, Chief of District Attorney Rollins’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, told the court that Mr. Chavis called 911 shortly before 12:30 p.m. Sunday and allegedly reported that he had stabbed his wife. Responding officers arrived at the Taft Street building where Mr. Chavis, Ms. Yasin and two children resided with Ms. DeAlto and encountered Mr. Chavis in the front entrance. His clothing had blood on it, prosecutors said. Inside the apartment, officers were met by the two young children, who were present in the home at the time of the murders.
The officers located Ms. Yasin and Ms. DeAlto in separate bedrooms, each suffering from serious stab wounds to the neck. Tragically, both victims succumbed to their injuries. A dog with a stab wound was also located in the same bedroom as Ms. DeAlto and taken to MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center for treatment.
The children who were present were physically uninjured and are currently safe and being cared for.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the two women whose lives were violently stolen. Staff assigned to my office’s Victim Witness Assistance Program have been in contact with the victims’ families to extend our condolences and to provide ongoing support and resources, especially for the children whose lives have been forever changed. We have also reached out to stakeholders within Boston’s transgender community, which Ms. DeAlto was dedicated to elevating. We are here to support the families, individuals and communities impacted by Ms. DeAlto and Ms. Yasin’s murders as they begin their long journey toward healing,” District Attorney Rollins said.
The victims of any crime, including domestic violence, should call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide domestic violence hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24 hours a day in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages.
Help is also available for members of our LGTBQ+ community experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901. Transgender individuals living in Massachusetts who are in immediate need of critical financial assistance can apply for assistance from the Transgender Emergency Fund at https://transemergencyfund.org/.
Anne Kelley-McCarthy is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate. Mr. Chavis is represented by David Leon. The case returns to court June 2, 2021.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 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.