PHOTO COURTESY OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE
Pictured is murder suspect David Michael Grossack.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — The 47-year-old homeless man accused of killing his 56-year-old girlfriend in December was held without bail following a Lynn District Court appearance on Monday.
David Grossack pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge. He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on May 4.
Grossack is accused of killing Kathleen Burgess, whose body was found by her daughter. Michelle Valasunas, 37, of Saugus, had not heard from her mother in about 10 days, and went to check on her on Dec. 29, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s office.
“Her and I were extremely close — have been my entire life,” said Valasunas. “She lived with me up until Oct. 15, 2016. She had the biggest heart. Anybody she knows would tell you the same thing.”
Grossack’s defense attorney, Denise Regan, said she had no comment.
Valasunas said she was just happy that Grossack was finally in custody.
Burgess’ body was found on her apartment floor of 40 Newhall St., covered up with blankets and sheets. Valasunas told responding officers that Grossack had been staying at the apartment with Burgess at times, prosecutors said.
Investigators found Burgess’ body in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating that she had been dead for days. Because of the decomposition, investigators initially couldn’t determine if Burgess had sustained any injuries or trauma. Evidence indicated there may have been a struggle. Blood evidence was collected throughout the studio apartment, according to court documents.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruled her death a homicide by blunt force trauma with multiple facial fractures, court documents show.
Investigators couldn’t find Grossack, but later learned he had been staying at various homeless shelters in the Boston area. He had been providing the shelters with different aliases from fraudulent identification cards, according to court documents.
Grossack was arrested on outstanding unrelated warrants by the Pittsfield Police Department March 28. While he was being booked, he told police that he had attempted to kill himself months ago after he had killed his girlfriend, court documents said.
During an interview with Pittsfield police, Grossack allegedly admitted to killing Burgess and provided a detailed description of how he assaulted and killed her, which was consistent with evidence at the scene. He described a stressful relationship with Burgess and stated that he stayed at the apartment for a few days after killing her.
Grossack is also accused of killing a man in Everett in February, and was ordered held without bail following a Malden District Court appearance last week. The body of Francis Brescia, 65, of Everett, was also found in an advanced state of decomposition at 25 Oakland Ave., on Feb. 25. The building’s landlord had found Brescia following a well-being check, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.
Grossack allegedly fatally assaulted Brescia in his home on or around Feb. 10. Brescia suffered a fractured skull and was stabbed at least 14 times, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the homicide and he was later arrested by Pittsfield police.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at gcawley@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.