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Woman to be Arraigned on Murder Charge in Connection with Death of Newton Man
NEWTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael have confirmed that Xiu Fang Ke, 43 of Newton will be arraigned today in Newton District Court in connection with allegedly beating Leonard Garber, 65 of Newton to death in his home on Mount Vernon Terrace.
Yesterday, September 27, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Newton Police officers arrived at the victim’s home as part of an ongoing missing persons investigation. Upon entering the home, police located Mr. Garber’s body wrapped in a curtain, under construction materials and under several other heavy items. Based on the preliminary assessment, it appears that the body may have been there for more than one day and that it had been placed in such a way as to conceal it.
On Monday, September 26, Mr. Garber’s family reported him missing. Newton Police immediately visited the home to conduct a well-being check but did not locate the victim. Yesterday, the family was again in contact with police who did two subsequent visits to the home that day, locating the victim the second time.
Police determined that Garber had allegedly been spending time with a female former tenant, later identified as Xiu Fang Ke.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the defendant had allegedly been forging checks from the victim’s accounts and had allegedly stolen over $40,000. When the victim became aware of the theft, he confronted the defendant and she allegedly struck and killed him and then attempted to hide the body.
Police reviewed financial records and surveillance footage from Mr. Garber’s home that allegedly showed an Asian female, later identified as the defendant, entering the victim’s home in the days prior to his body being located.
Xiu Fang Ke was arrested early this morning without incident at the Newton Police Station. She will be arraigned later today.
This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and Newton Police. The prosecutors assigned to this case are Nicole Allain and Julie Kunkel. The victim witness advocate is Anne Foley.
These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This is a difficult day for our community.
I want to begin by saying to the family of Leonard Garber, I personally express my condolences and I also speak for the people of Newton when I say our hearts and prayers are with you.
Mr. Garber was a member of our community. He attended synagogue here; he had friends and neighbors who knew and cared about him. You, too, are in our thoughts, especially in this period of repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The alleged perpetrator is also known in our community, and I want to acknowledge as well that this is a disturbing and difficult time for those who know her.
I want to reinforce that Newtonians should know that this does not appear to be random act.
I now want to turn to the people who were on this case from the very first call through the arrest in the early hours this morning, to give them my gratitude and respect –
- To our Newton dispatchers who listened to people concerned that about Mr. Garber’s well being
- To the police officers who responded to the reports of a missing person
- To the detectives who unraveled the case, especially Det. Sgt. Brian Tramontozzi, Det. Stephen Fontano and Det. Dennis O'Brien
- To Captain McMains and Chief Carmichael
We are grateful for your deep experience, your skill and your tenacity.
District Attorney Marian Ryan and her team, the State Police and the people at the crime scene – you were here in Newton with us and for us the minute we needed you and you stayed late into the early morning and were back as the sun rose. The work you do is important and difficult, and you do it well. Thank you.
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller
Click the photo below to watch a video of the press conference.
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