Massachusetts daughter accused of strangling after mother found deceased

SOMERVILLE – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police Charles Femino have confirmed that April Monroe, 48 of Somerville, has been charged with strangulation and assault and battery on a person over 60 causing serious bodily injury in connection with an alleged assault on her mother, Gail Gasperini, 73 of East Boston, who was found dead inside the defendant’s Summer Street apartment on May 28, 2023.

On the evening of May 28, the victim was reported missing by her husband who indicated that she had gone to visit her daughter, the defendant, and never returned. Somerville police subsequently responded to the defendant’s apartment and located the victim deceased. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner accepted the case and, during an autopsy conducted the following day, observed injuries to the body consistent with an assault. Based on the subsequent investigation, the defendant was charged with allegedly causing those injuries.

A ruling on the cause and manner of death has not been made and additional charges are possible. This is still an active and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and Somerville Police.

April Monroe will be arraigned today in Somerville District Court. The prosecutors assigned to this case are Daniel Harren and Mary O’Neill.