Massachusetts man held without bail after fatal assault of 33-year-old woman; victim and suspect identified

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Framingham Chief of Police Lester Baker have confirmed the ongoing investigation into a fatal assault that occurred on Waverly Street in Framingham.

Thursday at just after 12:15 p.m., Framingham Police received a 911 call from a residence on Waverly Street reporting an assault and an unresponsive female. 

Upon arrival police located a 33-year-old Brianna Connolly dead inside. 

Police arrested 43-year-old Flavio Alcantra Dias in connection with the assault. 

He was arraigned Friday in Framingham District Court on the charges of Assault and Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card where he pled not guilty and was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on September 4th.

According to Boston 25 News, Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brandt said Dias called 911 just before 12:30 p.m. Thursday and, speaking in Portuguese, reported that a homicide had just occurred and that he had killed a woman by mistake after strangling or suffocating her. Brandt said Dias told dispatchers they were at the victim’s home on Waverly Street in Framingham, had been using drugs, and argued after he wanted to have sex and she refused; Dias then said he fell asleep and found her unresponsive when he woke up. Police found Dias waiting outside, and prosecutors said their observations matched his account. Connolly was pronounced dead at the scene with injuries to her head and a cord or fabric around her neck.

This is 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 Framingham Police.