Son beat up parents, set home on fire with them inside: Cops
Share this @internewscast.com

Background: The home in North Adams, Massachusetts, where the victims died (WWLP/YouTube). Inset: Darius Hazard (North Adams Police Department).

A Massachusetts man is facing arson and murder charges after allegedly attacking his parents and setting their home on fire, according to authorities.

Darius Hazard, 44, stands accused of killing his parents, Venture Hazard, 76, and Donald Hazard, 83. He was brought before Northern Berkshire District Court on Wednesday, where the tragic events leading to their deaths were detailed.

In the early hours of Monday, Darius Hazard reportedly assaulted his parents at their North Adams residence, according to a statement from the North Adams Police Department. Following the assault, he allegedly spread gasoline throughout the first floor of the house and ignited it.

Court documents, cited by NBC affiliate WNYT, reveal the desperate pleas of his injured parents, who shouted, “Come back,” and “Help me, help us, we are in trouble” as the situation unfolded.

After setting the fire, Hazard reportedly left the home on Francis Street and drove away, with authorities estimating the time of his departure between 3 and 4 a.m.

It wasn’t until around 6 a.m. that neighbors, on their way out, noticed smoke pouring from a vent in the Hazards’ home. Realizing something was wrong, one neighbor knocked on the door while another called emergency services.

North Adams police officers arrived on the scene and noticed “immense heat coming from the residence.” As firefighters followed and entered the home to fight the fire, they found Venture Hazard and Donald Hazard dead inside the living room. The chief medical examiner’s office determined that the preliminary cause of death for both victims was smoke inhalation.

Authorities also learned about Darius Hazard. He apparently lived at the home but was not there at the time, nor was his car. Furthermore, it appeared that he had left sometime recently as “[t]here was a dry spot in the driveway where the Defendant’s car was normally parked,” and it had rained the previous evening.

As the hours passed, police learned that Darius Hazard had not arrived for his job at Stop & Shop at 10 a.m., which was “extremely unusual” as he was “always prompt.” Four hours later, a state police detective saw a vehicle matching the defendant’s pull into an area Walmart parking lot. Officers proceeded to verify that it was him and made the arrest.

It was here that Darius Hazard allegedly admitted everything he knew.

An officer asked him if he knew what had happened at the house, and Darius Hazard said yes, court documents stated. When the officer then asked whether he was OK, he replied, “truthfully, no,” later adding, “I guess I snapped.”

His mother had been having a difficult time walking, and his father had been taking care of her, Darius Hazard said, per WNYT. She had suffered falls, including that morning, and the son had grown frustrated.

He was reportedly “really, really angry” and shoved them both to the floor of their bedroom. He then allegedly hit them with his fist and threw a small fan at his father, who asked him to stop.

Darius Hazard did stop, according to the court documents, but he had another action in mind. The defendant allegedly poured gasoline on the upstairs floor and in the home’s living room, and set a match. He then grabbed a knife and drove about two hours north to Clinton, Massachusetts, where he tried to stab himself.

An autopsy for Venture Hazard stated that she had a fractured rib, bruising on her leg, and mild head trauma. Donald Hazard had a hemorrhage on his throat and on the right side of his face, as well as bruising and cuts on his back. Both of them had burns in addition to signs of smoke inhalation.

Darius Hazard is scheduled to be back in court on Dec. 29.

North Adams is located in northwest Massachusetts, near the border of both New York and Vermont.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Tragic Turn: Man Shoots Partner Over Coin Dispute with Child in Car – Shocking Details Revealed

Inset: Alan Michael Mellow (Barry County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Missouri apartment…

Shocking Discovery: Razor Blades Found Hidden in Walmart Bread – What You Need to Know!

In a troubling incident last week, Mississippi authorities apprehended a woman accused…

Obama-Appointed Judge Denies Harsh Sentence for Biden Threat Suspect, Sparking Controversy

President Joe Biden gives remarks on student debt relief at Delaware State…

Authorities Report Fatal Shooting of Salvation Army Volunteer at Kroger During Holiday Season

Share A tragic incident unfolded outside a Michigan grocery store when a…

Man Allegedly Uses Shotgun in Fatal Incident with Wife, Claiming She ‘Pushed Him to the Limit,’ Report Police

Share A man from West Virginia is accused of fatally shooting his…

Shocking Theft at Élysée Palace: Silver Steward Nabbed for Stashing Priceless Silverware

Three men are set to face trial next year following the arrest…

Man Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend Using GPS Tracker and Threatening Texts, Police Report

Brian Neilinger (Broward County Jail). In a troubling case from Florida, a…

Chaos Unleashed: Woman Accused of Biting Officer Amid Royal Disturbance

A Canberra woman has been charged after being accused of biting a…

Analyzing the Legal and Human Consequences of Rising Injury Claims in Florida

Photo courtesy of Pexels Florida consistently ranks among the states with the…

Tragic Death of Malnourished 6-Year-Old: Allegations of Cruel Treatment in Dog Crate Emerge

Inset: Susan Robinson (Mecklenburg County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The North Carolina home…

Teenager with Developmental Challenges Disappears from Party, Raising Concerns of Foul Play

When Erica Bilheimer was just 10, she embraced a new identity with…

Cyclist Tragically Killed in Daytime Hit-and-Run Involving Hospital Employee Driving Untrained 20,000-Pound Truck: Lawsuit Alleges

Left inset: Alexander Rozos (Groce Funeral Home and Cremation Service). Right inset:…