23-year-old Brockton man charged with murder concerning fatal crash that killed 22-year-old

BROCKTON – A Brockton man was arraigned today in Superior Court on charges including Murder in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash last January, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has announced.

23-year-old Natanael Defarias was arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court on charges of Murder, Motor Vehicle Homicide, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and three counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon. Defarias pleaded not guilty to all charges and was placed on $5,000 cash bail. The Commonwealth had requested bail be set at $100,000. If released, the court also ordered that Defarias refrain from operating a motor vehicle.

The charges stem from a January 13, 2024, incident where Defarias crashed a Mercedes sedan in the area of 260 Belair St. in Brockton. An investigation following the crash found Defarias had been driving over 100 miles per hour in a residential area, lost control of the vehicle and crashed on the roadway.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash. All four occupants were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Nestor Velasquez, 22, ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

According to an obituary, “Nestor worked as a landscaper and was a graduate of Brockton High School. He enjoyed playing basketball and socializing with family and friends.”

Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Higgins and Sean Kennedy are prosecuting this case. The case has been investigated by the Brockton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police.

Defarias is next scheduled to appear in court on March 21 for a pre-trial conference.