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Josh Lanier

Assistant Managing Editor

jlanier@dailyvoice.com

Josh Lanier started his reporting career in high school for his local newspaper. Many — many — years later, he’s still chasing leads for compelling stories. During his time writing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications, he’s covered everything from murderers to mommy bloggers, but his most interesting story is always the next one.


Josh Lanier's Contributions

Police & Fire
Lawrence Man, 27, Drowns At New Hampshire Beach, 2nd Swimmer Rescued: Police Lawrence Man, 27, Drowns At New Hampshire Beach, 2nd Swimmer Rescued: Police
Lawrence Man, 27, Drowns At New Hampshire Beach, 2nd Swimmer Rescued: Police A 27-year-old Essex County man drowned on Tuesday, Sept. 5, while swimming with a friend at a beach in New Hampshire, authorities said. Police later identified him as Wandy Bethancourt-Adames of Lawrence.  A surfer noticed the two men off a Hampton, NH, beach around 7:30 p.m. screaming for help, New Hampshire State Police said.  The surfer pulled one of the men — later identified as Luis Colon-De-Lara, age 28, of Lawrence — to safety. The Good Samaritan then called 911 to report the second man desperately needed rescue.   Firefighters pulled Bethancourt-A…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Shot In Head Was Talking When He Was Found At Hampden County Gas Station Man Shot In Head Was Talking When He Was Found At Hampden County Gas Station
Man Shot In Head Was Talking When He Was Found At Hampden County Gas Station A man shot in the head was talkative and alert when he was found at a Hampden County gas station on Saturday, Sept. 2.  The man, whose name was not released, was found in the parking lot of the Sunoco gas station on North Main Street in East Longmeadow just after 8 p.m., East Longmeadow police said. It's unclear how he ended up at the gas station.  Paramedics took the man to a Baystate Medical Center, where East Longmeadow detectives spoke with him about how a bullet ended up in his skull. He told them the shooting happened on the other side of the Springfield-East Longmeadow bord…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Teen Who Drowned Swimming In Westford Quarry ID'd As Methuen Man Teen Who Drowned Swimming In Westford Quarry ID'd As Methuen Man
Teen Who Drowned Swimming In Westford Quarry ID'd As Methuen Man An 18-year-old who went swimming with friends in a Middlesex Quarry on Labor Day drowned, authorities announced on Wednesday.  Chester D. Rodriguez, 18, of Methuen, was swimming at Merrill's Quarry in Wesstford just before 5 p.m. when he began to struggle to stay afloat and sank beneath the water, Massachusetts State Police said.  There is no evidence of foul play. Investigators said several no trespassing and private property signs are posted at the quarry.  The quarry became a popular swimming spot after it was featured in the movie "Grown Ups 2" in 2013. 

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man's Face Slashed Open As Roofers Trade Insults At Central Mass Party: Police Man's Face Slashed Open As Roofers Trade Insults At Central Mass Party: Police
Man's Face Slashed Open As Roofers Trade Insults At Central Mass Party: Police An argument between coworkers over who was the better roofer at a party in Worcester County ended in bloodshed over the weekend, authorities said.  Alix Ulloa-Hernandez, 34, of Vinton, Virginia, was arrested Saturday, Sept. 2, following the fight at a Super 8 Motel in Sturbridge, Sturbridge police said. He is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace, and was being held on a $7,500 cash bail, authorities said.  Police were called to the 358 Main Street motel just after 8 p.m. and found several broken bottles, a bloody knif…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Western Mass Ex-Marine Stole $344K in Benefits, Lied To Get Purple Heart: Feds Western Mass Ex-Marine Stole $344K in Benefits, Lied To Get Purple Heart: Feds
Western Mass Ex-Marine Stole $344K in Benefits, Lied To Get Purple Heart: Feds Federal authorities have accused a former US Marine from Franklin County of stolen valor after they say he illegally accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in veteran benefits and lied about suffering a traumatic brain injury in a roadside bomb to earn a Purple Heart.  Paul John "PJ" Herbert, 52, of Shelburne Falls, is charged with one count of theft of government money and one count of making false statements, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He faces potentially decades in prison if convicted on all charges.  Herbert is accused of stealing more than $344,000 …

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by Josh Lanier
News
Body Found By Kids In Western Mass ID'd As Man Missing For 3 Years: DA Body Found By Kids In Western Mass ID'd As Man Missing For 3 Years: DA
Body Found By Kids In Western Mass ID'd As Man Missing For 3 Years: DA Police in Franklin County have identified the skeletal remains found on an island in the Connecticut River last month by a group of children on a nature hike.  The bones belonged to Brian Cornwell, age 57, who was reported missing in 2020, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Investigators are trying to determine how he died.  About 24 students and chaperones with the Westhampton-based summer camp Biocitizen Inc. were exploring Rawson Island — in between Greenfield and Montague — on Aug. 23 when they stumbled on the body, authorities said.  They called…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Viral Spicy Challenge Killed 14-Year-Old Worcester Boy, Family Says Viral Spicy Challenge Killed 14-Year-Old Worcester Boy, Family Says
Viral Spicy Challenge Killed 14-Year-Old Worcester Boy, Family Says The family of a 14-year-old Worcester boy said they believe he died after taking the "One Chip Challenge" at Doherty Memorial High School.  Harris Wolobah died on Friday, Sept. 1, after coming home from school complaining of a stomach ache, a GoFundMe said. Police and paramedics were called to a home on Rustic Drive around 4:30 p.m., where they found the boy unresponsive, Worcester police said. They rushed him to an area hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.  Related: Company Pulls 'One Chip Challenge' Following Death The Chief Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine t…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Western Mass Cop Welcomed Home 175 Days After Post ‘Battle Of The Badges’ Heart Attack Western Mass Cop Welcomed Home 175 Days After Post ‘Battle Of The Badges’ Heart Attack
Western Mass Cop Welcomed Home 175 Days After Post ‘Battle Of The Badges’ Heart Attack A Hampden County police officer who nearly died while being rushed to the hospital in the spring returned home to a hero's welcome over the weekend.  Chicopee Officer Mark Wilkes called 911 on March 13 after complaining he wasn't feeling well. He'd competed in the annual Battle of the Badges between the Chicopee police and fire departments earlier that day but didn't feel right after returning home.  Wilkes suffered a "serious medical event" in the ambulance, and paramedics had to perform CPR as they rushed him to the hospital, where Wilkes would remain for "175 long days." Officials later…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Family Of Mom Allegedly Killed In Front Of Her Kids By Ex In Salem Pleads For Community's Help Family Of Mom Allegedly Killed In Front Of Her Kids By Ex In Salem Pleads For Community's Help
Family Of Mom Allegedly Killed In Front Of Her Kids By Ex In Salem Pleads For Community's Help Jonathan Castillo says his days have fallen into a miserable routine since his sister Nayeli Nieves was brutally murdered in early August in Essex County. He wakes up to help search for the 20-year-old's body near her Essex County home or in other areas where he's heard whispers she could have been dumped. At night, he struggles to sleep.  "She had called me to come see her new place," Jonathan said. "She was so excited for me to see it, but I couldn't. I had to work. I can't stop thinking about that. I should have just stayed out (of work) that day. I should have seen her." Salem poli…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
(Update) Man Dies From Wounds After Lynn House Party Attack; 3rd Death In Weekend (Update) Man Dies From Wounds After Lynn House Party Attack; 3rd Death In Weekend
(Update) Man Dies From Wounds After Lynn House Party Attack; 3rd Death In Weekend Update: The family of a 21-year-old who was shot while at a Lynn house party early Saturday morning, Sept. 2, has started a GoFundMe in his name.  Jandriel Heredia was called the heart of the family and their angel. He died on Sunday after succumbing to his wounds from the previous night's shooting.  The boy with the biggest heart and biggest smile, snatched from us in an instant and so senselessly. He did not deserve this, no one did. We are incredibly heartbroken, we are holding tight to his mother Iverca Cuevas and praying she finds strength to go on after losing her only son. …

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by Josh Lanier
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