Authorities: Lawrence man nabbed on slay of son’s mom
A Lawrence man accused of strangling the mother of his child while the 4-year-old boy was home last year was arrested in California yesterday, authorities said.
Emilio DeLarosa, 33, killed Wanda Rosa, 29, in her Methuen apartment on Sept. 12, authorities said. Police said their young boy was in the home when Rosa was strangled.
An Essex County grand jury last year indicted DeLarosa on a murder charge and for violation of an abuse prevention order. Rosa had an active restraining order against DeLarosa at the time of her death, authorities said.
DeLarosa was arrested in Patterson, Calif., yesterday by sheriff’s deputies. U.S. Marshals in California, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section worked to arrest DeLarosa.
“I want to thank everyone involved in safely apprehending this defendant, most especially the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section. Their persistent pursuit of Mr. DeLarosa ensures that he will be held accountable for his heinous actions,” District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement. “As the first anniversary of Ms. Rosa’s death approaches, I hope that this arrest will give some measure of solace to her family and friends. While nothing can bring her back, we will seek justice on her behalf.”
According to court records, DeLarosa has a record that includes arrests on charges of attempted murder, assault to murder and assault and battery. DeLarosa was convicted in 2014 of assault and kidnapping charges in incidents that involved Rosa. He was sentenced to four years behind bars and was on probation for five years, which included an abuse and prevention order meant to protect Rosa.
DeLarosa is expected to be arraigned on a fugitive from justice charge and returned to Massachusetts to face trial.