Man arraigned in beating death of fellow inmate at southern New England treatment center

A Gloucester man was arraigned on a Second Degree Murder charge in connection with the beating death of a fellow inmate at Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

On September 1, 2021, a Plymouth County grand jury returned indictments charging Michael Robinson, 42, of Gloucester, with one count each of Second Degree Murder and Assault and Battery With A Dangerous Weapon, Shod Foot. Tuesday, Robinson was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on the charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was held without bail.

On April 13, 2021 at approximately 10:38 p.m., corrections officers at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater responded to a report of an altercation which occurred in a facility bathroom. Upon arrival, officers found the male victim unresponsive and bleeding. The victim received medical treatment on scene, before being transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton where he was pronounced dead of his injuries. The victim was identified as Scott Wonoski, 43, of Worcester.

Officials from the Massachusetts Treatment Center contacted Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and an investigation commenced. Video surveillance obtained from the facility captured the incident, which shows Robinson allegedly physically assault the victim and exit the bathroom.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the manner of the death was homicide and cause was blunt force injuries of the head and torso.

Robinson is next scheduled to be in court on January 10, 2022.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Leary is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Department of Correction.