Domestic violence tragedy: Massachusetts man sentenced to prison for new wife’s murder

On Tuesday, a jury in Berkshire Superior Court found a 53-year-old North Adams man guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Luis A. Rosado was convicted in the killing of 38-year-old Jillian Tatro of North Adams on May 28, 2022.

Rosado and Tatro had been in a romantic relationship since September 2021 and were married on January 3, 2022. On the evening of May 28, 2022, the couple went to Tatro’s second-floor apartment on Charles Street in North Adams.

A first-floor neighbor reported hearing both Rosado and Tatro in the apartment before leaving for work around 10:15 p.m. At approximately 10:42 p.m., Tatro’s son arrived at the building and saw Rosado leaving. Rosado told him that his mother had left with a friend. Both men then left the area.

The following evening, on Sunday, May 29, at around 7:54 p.m., North Adams police were called to the apartment for a report of an unattended death. Tatro’s son told officers he had entered the apartment after being unable to reach his mother and found her dead. Law enforcement discovered Tatro lying on her back near the entryway with obvious stab wounds. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined she had been stabbed ten times, slashed six times, and suffered blunt force trauma to her head.

Through evidence from the scene, cell phone data, and witness interviews, investigators concluded that Rosado murdered Tatro between 10:15 p.m. and 10:42 p.m. on May 28. The investigation also revealed a history of domestic violence in their relationship.

“Today, my thoughts are with Ms. Tatro’s children and family. Ms. Tatro’s son demonstrated tremendous poise and courage during his testimony in the trial.” District Attorney Shugrue continued, “Ms. Tatro was a victim of domestic violence. The most dangerous time in a victim of domestic violence life is when they are prepared to leave. We know that Jillian was planning to leave on the Tuesday following her murder. Her death is a tragic example of lethal consequence of domestic violence and the lasting impact these crimes have on families and communities.”

Second Assistant District Attorney Joseph Yorlano and Assistant District Attorney Amy Winston represented the commonwealth. Associate Director of Victim Witness Advocates Kristen Rapkowicz served as the advocate on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office. Heather Bates served as the District Attorney’s Office media specialist throughout the trial.

Law Enforcement on the cased included the North Adams Police Department, the Pittsfield Police Department, the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned the Berkshire district Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.