By Josh Resnek
Police are remaining closed mouth about whether or not Victor Mariscal, 27, who was charged with stabbing a man on Bradford Terrace on March 16, is the same assailant who stabbed to death 54 year old Michael Starr ten days later.
Officials familiar with the investigation who wished to remain unnamed said the two stabbing incidents on the same street during the same time of evening within ten days would appear to be the work of the same assailant.
“There are many similarities to the two crimes,” a police official added. “The State Police are trying to connect the two crimes,” he said.
On Saturday, Starr’s funeral was well attended by his many friends and family members at the Vertuccio Smith Funeral Home in Revere, where he grew up. Starr had lived in Everett on Bradford Court for almost three decades.
He was stabbed in the back, found by neighbors and rushed to the hospital where he later died, according to sources.
He was returning to his apartment after shopping at 7/11 in the crowded, closely knit neighborhood, when he was attacked.
After his murder, police revealed there had been a stabbing in the same area ten days before.
Police have revealed that stabbing was carried out with a large butcher knife – a carving type knife. The man, whose identity has not been revealed, suffered non life threatening to wounds he received on his forearm.
After an intense investigation and manhunt and close examination of surveillance video, police searched for Mariscal, capturing him in Cambridge. He was charged with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after he was arraigned on charges of stabbing a man.
He is being held without bail.
A highly agitated Mariscal yelled an obscenity and held up his middle finger to reporters as he left the courthouse in handcuffs after being arraigned.
Police searching his apartment on March 27 found a butcher knife between Mariscal’s bed and wall. Mariscal is reported to have told the police he used the butcher knife to cut things on his desk, then he put it on his bed and “ it must have fallen between the bed and the wall.”
As a precaution, added police patrols have continued to patrol the neighborhood.
Councilor Mike McLaughlin described Starr as someone he knew well.
“He was a nice man,” said McLaughlin.” What a shame,” he added.