Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • New York Post

    Mom-to-be who accused boyfriend of domestic abuse was stabbed to death hours later, allegedly by his brother

    By Olivia Land,

    2024-08-08

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0aXHhN_0urwNYmf00

    A Massachusetts mom-to-be was stabbed to death hours after accusing her boyfriend of punching her in her pregnant belly — allegedly by the boyfriend’s homeless brother, whom they’d taken in, according to authorities.

    Brianna Welsh, 25, was found dead with “multiple sharp force” injuries at her home in Lynn on July 31, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office . She was around three months pregnant at the time.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3CXCOW_0urwNYmf00
    Brianna Welsh, 25, was fatally stabbed in her own home. Brianna Welsh/Facebook

    Just a day earlier, the mom-to-be called 911 accusing her boyfriend, Brendan Vozzella, of punching her in the stomach, NBC10 reported.

    Vozzella, 24, was arrested around 2 p.m. — and held overnight — while Welsh was treated at a nearby hospital.

    She returned around 6:15 p.m. to their apartment — when officials believe Brendan’s 26-year-old brother, Zachary Vozzella, stabbed her to death before fleeing, prosecutors said.

    ‘Disgruntled client’ stabs 17-year-old volunteer at NYC soup kitchen in spat possibly over juice: cops

    Zachary Vozzella was homeless and staying with the couple at the time, Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall said in court last week.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0nNEYC_0urwNYmf00
    Zachary Vozzella has been charged with the brutal murder of his brother’s girlfriend. WHDH

    Welsh’s body was discovered on the floor of her bedroom the next day when her mother asked building maintenance to check on her, NBC10 explained.

    She had cuts to her neck, legs and abdominal area, prosecutors said, according to MassLive . Her boyfriend was in custody at the time.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3IbT3s_0urwNYmf00
    Brianna Welsh called 911 on her boyfriend Brendan Vozzella one day before her body was found. Brianna Welsh/Facebook

    The brother, Zachary, initially claimed that he’d been at a Dunkin’ Donuts all day. But when investigators proved that wasn’t true, he admitted that he went to his brother’s apartment between 2 and 8:30 p.m. — but claimed he did’t see Welsh, NBC10 said.

    Investigators later found Welsh’s key fob in a backpack at a relative’s home where Zachary was also staying, along with clothes and a knife that tested positive for blood.

    NYC stabbing spree leaves two wounded as homeless suspect caught hiding under subway platform: sources

    Key fob data proved that Welsh used her key around 6:15 p.m. on the evening she was last seen, and that whoever last left the apartment was gone by about 8:30 p.m., investigators said.

    Video footage also showed Zachary going to his other relative’s home with a backpack and a trash bag in tow.

    Zachary Vozzella pleaded not guilty on Aug. 1 to one count of murder and one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the DA’s office said.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2IqJyg_0urwNYmf00
    Key fob data showed that Brianna Welsh returned to her apartment by 6:15 p.m. July 30. WHDH

    He is being held without bail pending a probable cause hearing on Sept. 10.

    During the court proceedings last week, MacDougal said there was “some indication” that Welsh had wanted Zachary to move out of the apartment before she died.

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MORNING REPORT NEWSLETTER

    Zachary’s lawyer, Francisco Napolitano, told WHDH that his client insisted he did not kill Welsh.

    Brendan Vozzella was arraigned on charges of assault and battery on a pregnant victim and assault and battery on a family member on Wednesday.

    Judge Ina Howard-Hogan deemed him a danger to the community and ordered for him to be held for the next 120 days, MassLive reported.

    “The tragic violence that has taken the life of Brianna Welsh and her unborn child has created an unbearable loss for her family,” Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said in a statement.

    “While their loss cannot be repaired or remedied, I hope that our efforts to seek justice on her behalf assures them that we and the community support them.”

    Welsh’s family set up a GoFundMe for her funeral expenses, which noted that the mom-to-be was set to find out the sex of her baby shortly after she was killed.

    “Tragically, she has been taken from us, murdered in her own home. We are all lost without her,” the page read. “She was a bright shining star that went out before her time.”

    As of Thursday, the fundraiser had raked in over $16,600 of its $18,000 goal.

    For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.

    Expand All
    Comments / 18
    Add a Comment
    XasiancutieX
    08-11
    accused? she was hospitalized for getting beat up then went home to this pos
    Dee n meek
    08-11
    this asshole must be disturbed but also stupid like you could of just kicked your family out how was this worth it people are fucking slow to think they can do way they want like who the fuck are you a nobody now you will have several seats in prison and rot
    View all comments
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Local News newsLocal News

    Comments / 0