Woman, 23, charged with murder in connection with stabbing death of man in Easthampton

A 23-year-old woman is being held without bail for allegedly stabbing a 23-year-old man to death Tuesday in the Easthampton apartment they shared, according to prosecutors and court records.

Jean Marie Echevarria was arraigned Wednesday in Northampton District Court on a count of murder in connection with the death of Brennan David Bleau, who was stabbed five times, records show. A not guilty plea was entered for Echevarria, who was ordered detained with a pretrial hearing slated for April 12.

Donald W. Frank, a lawyer who represented Echevarria at arraignment, said in a brief phone interview that she denies the allegations and will have her day in court, stressing that she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A second lawyer appointed to represent Echevarria going forward declined to comment.

Shortly after 3 a.m., officers were called to a Culdaff Street apartment for a reported disturbance, according to a police report.

Officers saw what appeared to be blood in the snow outside, on the landing to the residence, and on the door leading into the apartment where Echevarria and Bleau lived, according to the report.

Officers entered the apartment and discovered Bleau lying on the kitchen floor with stab wounds to his torso.

Echevarria told officers she’d been in a “physical altercation” with Bleau, who she said “pinned her against the kitchen counter,” prompting her to grab a kitchen knife and swing it at him, the police report stated.

“Echevarria was observed to have some abrasions to her legs, but otherwise did not sustain any wounds or injuries,” the report said. “Echevarria at no time claimed that Bleau was armed with any sort of weapon during their altercation.”

Bleau was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly before 5 a.m. He had sustained five stab wounds and died from blood loss, police said.

It was first homicide in Easthampton since the 2012 murder of Jessica Ann Pripstein, who was killed by her boyfriend Ryan Welch, prosecutors said. Welch is serving a life sentence.