WORCESTER – Monday, a Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 20 years, in the 2021 killing of 29-year-old Erica Lara, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr.
35-year-old Kyle Curley additionally pleaded guilty to one count of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. He was sentenced to 2 to 3 years in state prison, to be served concurrently with his life sentence.
On June 29, 2021, Lara’s body was found inside Hotel Vernon in Worcester, located at 16 Kelley Square, following a missing persons report filed by her family. An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Lara’s cause of death was due to complications of blunt force injuries to the head.
During the investigation, a warrant was issued for Curley’s arrest. In July 2021, Curley was arrested by the San Diego Police Department in California after contacting the Worcester Police Department Detective Bureau to turn himself in on unrelated warrants.
Curley was indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury on March 24, 2023, and later arraigned on the charges in Worcester Superior Court on April 10, 2023.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser created by Lara’s sister, there was a history of abuse and he stalked her.
“I know so many people keep asking why did she stay? The truth is, he was stalking her. Every time she went to get away, he found her. Right before she went missing we discovered a tracking app on her phone and we had her delete it. The next day was the last day anyone heard from her. He also threatened her life on many occasions and told her he would kill her if she went to the police again, and some of her friends have told me they heard him threatening her life over the phone. No one understands the fear of domestic violence unless you’ve been in that situation yourself.”
An obituary stated that “Erica was known for her huge heart and bubbly personality. Erica was loving, caring, and would give the world to anyone who needed it, even when she didn’t have anything herself to give.”
“We never stop working towards justice for victims and their families, especially in cases that remain unresolved. I want to thank Assistant District Attorney Joseph Simmons and Victim Witness Advocate Margaret Rwaramba for their hard work and dedication throughout this case,” said Early. “We are also grateful to the family for their patience and understanding throughout this process. We are proud of the work of our prosecution team in bringing some measure of justice to the family.” Early also thanked the law enforcement agencies who worked on this case, including the Worcester Police Department Detective Bureau and the San Diego Police Department.
