Jury seating area - file photo.
Jury seating area - File Photo.

Massachusetts man arraigned on first-degree murder charge after admitting to killing sister

Posted by
1 min read
November 4, 2024

CHESHIRE, Mass. — A Windsor man has been arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder after walking into a Massachusetts State Police barracks and confessing to killing his sister, according to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.

Paul Menard, 65, appeared in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday, November 1, where he was formally charged with the murder of his sister, Monique Menard, 61. Berkshire District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue represented the Commonwealth in the arraignment. Menard is being held without bail.

The incident unfolded on Thursday, October 31, at approximately 1:45 p.m., when Menard walked into the State Police barracks in Cheshire, Massachusetts, and reported that he had shot and killed his sister at his home in Windsor. Troopers immediately responded to the residence and arrived at approximately 2:04 p.m. There, they found Monique Menard lying face-down outside the house near her car.

According to evidence gathered at the scene and Menard’s own account, he shot his sister three times — once in the front, once in the back, and once in the back of the head. Menard reportedly used two firearms, as one of the weapons jammed during the attack. He waited approximately 20 minutes after the shooting before driving to the barracks to report the incident, but did not call 911.

Officials stated that Menard was cooperative with law enforcement throughout the process. He did not possess a Firearm Identification (FID) card, which is required to legally own firearms in Massachusetts.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has taken custody of Monique Menard’s body to conduct an autopsy. Further court proceedings are pending as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss