Middlesex District Attorney Maria Ryan and her office came under fire last week after Jared Remy was charged with murdering his girlfriend, Jennifer Martel.
Remy was released from jail without bail last Wednesday after he allegedly assaulted Martel. On Thursday night, Martel was stabbed to death.
Remy, who was found at the scene by police covered in blood, was charged for Martel’s murder last Friday. He is being held without bail, a decision many feel should have happened last week. If not sooner.
Wednesday, just two days after Ryan announced that her office would conduct a review of handling of Remy’s alleged assault, the Middlesex DA appointed two prosecutors to handle the investigation, the Globe’s Peter Schworm reports.
Former Essex County District Attorney Kevin Burke will work with Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Jeanmarie Carroll will review the circumstances that led to Remy’s release last Wednesday.
Remy, 34, has a history of domestic abuse, admitting in 2005 that he kicked and punched Martel, 27, repeatedly, until she ran to a neighbors house, according Boston Globe feature story.
Remy came into the public spotlight when he and another co-worker were fired in 2008 by the Red Sox amidst allegations of dealing steroids. Previously, Remy had been charged in 1998 with destruction of property belonging to the mother of his son. In 2003, Remy was charged with possession of hypodermic needle and hitting a women in the head with a beer bottle at a Waltham Bar.
Remy was charged with murder on Friday after police found Remy covered in blood and Martel stabbed to death at their Waltham townhouse where the couple lived with their 4-year old daughter.
This tragedy, many believe, could have been avoided had Ryan and her office acted differently when Remy found himself in court for allegedly abusing Martel.
Ryan stood by her decision to release Remy without bail, but acknowledged that she was confident District Attorney Burke and Assistant District Attorney Carroll would conduct a thorough review of the case. “We will utilize these findings to better protect victims,” said Ryan.
Martel’s murder was, in itself, a tragedy. The most disturbing aspect is undeniable notion that it could have been prevented. Remy’s history of violence towards Martel and others, including multiple court visits over the past 15 years, raises the question as to how he was able to avoid significant jail time. Even more troubling is the apparent lack of support for Martel from outside resources while suffering for nearly a decade from Remy’s abuse.
There appears to be an underlying assumption that Martel had chosen to stay with Remy despite the abuse. Did Martel really have any choice other than stay with the deeply troubled and violent Remy? Martel deserved protection, or, at the very least, assistance to help her recognize the choices she had.
