Billerica Police | MA

For Immediate Release December 22, 2017
Contact: Press Office
781-897-8325

BILLERICA – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Billerica Chief of Police Daniel Rosa have announced that Adam Bradley, 32, of Lynn, was sentenced by Judge Maynard Kirpilani today to life without the possibility of parole in connection with the 2012 Billerica homicide that resulted in the death of 22-year-old Quintin Koehler. A jury convicted Bradley of first degree murder yesterday. Bradley was also convicted of home invasion, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition.

District Attorney Ryan stated, “The death of Quintin Koehler in his own home was the result of a plan allegedly put together by six men to force their way into a home, terrorize the residents and enrich themselves with money and marijuana. This conviction is a testament to the dedication of multiple law enforcement agencies over the past five years who have thoroughly investigated this case to ensure that the individuals involved are held accountable for their role in this venture. We will continue to work with our federal and local partners as the remaining cases in this matter move forward.”

Chief Rosa added, “I am very proud of the investigative and prosecutorial team in this case who worked tirelessly to finally get justice for the victim and the community.”

On July 7, 2012, at approximately 3:50 a.m., four men forced entry into a home at 795 Boston Road in Billerica, smashing the door from its hinges. Some of the men wore masks, and at least three of them were armed with handguns. When two occupants of the house resisted and tried to force them back out of the door of the home, one of the home invaders fatally shot a resident of the home, Quintin Koehler. The home invaders fled without completing their robbery plan.

The subsequent investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica Police Department, including the identification and development of cooperating witnesses, cellular phone records analysis, cellular site location information, surveillance video analysis and DNA analysis of items recovered from the crime scene, revealed that the home invasion plot allegedly involved six men, who participated in a joint venture in order to steal cash and marijuana from the victims.

Included in the group were Adam Bradley, who organized the plot and recruited the participants; Jason Estabrook, who fought with the victims in the kitchen of the home where the attempted armed robbery took place; Peter Bin and Gabriel Arias; who allegedly carried firearms into the home; and Steven Touch and Sophan Keo, who allegedly provided transportation to and from the scene of the crime.

While awaiting trial, Adam Bradley repeatedly wrote letters and made telephone calls from jail asking known gang associates and acquaintances to have the prosecution’s cooperating witness killed to prevent the witness from testifying against him at trial.

The Commonwealth alleges that Bradley, Bin, Arias, Touch and Keo were all members or associates of the Bloods organization based in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Jason Estabrook, 34, of Lynn, was convicted by a Middlesex Superior Court Jury of first degree murder, home invasion and attempted armed robbery in June of 2016. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Peter Bin, 30, of Peabody, was convicted by a Middlesex Superior Court Jury of first degree murder, home invasion and attempted armed robbery in December of 2014. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Gabriel Arias, 25, of Lynn, was convicted in December of 2014 of willfully misleading a police investigation in connection with this case, and was sentenced to five to seven years in state prison.

In June of 2017, after new evidence was uncovered by investigators, a Middlesex County Grand Jury indicted Sophan Keo, 29, of Beverly, Gabriel Arias, 25, of Lynn, and Steven Touch, 28, of Lynn, in connection the death of Quintin Kohler. The defendants are each charged with murder in the first degree, home invasion, attempt to commit armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy.

Both Sophan Keo and Gabriel Arias have been arraigned and ordered held without bail in connection with the homicide.

Police are actively seeking the third defendant, Steven Touch, an alleged leader of the Young Bloods, a violent street gang operating in and around Lynn, Massachusetts. The FBI is offering a monetary reward of up to $10,000 for information leading his arrest. Touch is considered extremely dangerous and members of the public should not attempt to approach him.

Touch is a 28-year-old Cambodian male who is a legal U.S. citizen, with black hair, brown eyes and a goatee. He is 5’7” in height and weighs approximately 220 pounds. He last resided at 108 Empire Street, Lynn, Massachusetts.

Touch has six tattoos; the word “Blood” on his right upper arm, the word “Mayhem” on his right neck, a baby footprint on his right neck, the letter “Y” with the word “Young” underneath his right inner forearm, the letter “B” with the word “Blood” underneath, on his left forearm, and the word “Touch” on his left hand.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should call the FBI Boston Division’s North Shore Gang Task Force at 1-857-386-2000. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.

Members of the public with information they believe will be helpful can also contact Massachusetts State Police at 508-820-2121 or Billerica Police at 978-667-1212.

These charges are allegations and Keo, Arias and Touch are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutors assigned to this case were Special Assistant District Attorney David Solet and Assistant District Attorney Jamie Charles. The Victim Witness Advocate was Meaghan McCarthy, the paralegal was Kristina D’Ambra.

On Saturday, December 2nd town residents will go to the polls here in Billerica to decide whether to overrule the valid action of our Representative Town Meeting. The vote involves overruling town meetings overwhelming vote to fund several routine budget items. One of those items is a clear concern to public safety and the quality of life in our community. I feel an obligation to accurately inform the residents about the public safety implications of this vote.

The item in question involves funding for an improved Tree and Parks Division within our DPW in order to care for our capital assets. I feel that this department plays a vital public safety function. The current department provides support for our traffic safety program which is no small task since Billerica has over 250 miles of roadway. In addition to the cutting of dangerous trees on town property they also provide brush cutting and trimming on untold roadways and intersections every year. If you are a resident who lives or travel through an intersection where brush and overgrowth has obscured intersection sight lines then you understand the problem.

The Tree and Parks Department has been understaffed and neglected for many years. The department’s first priority is always burials at the cemetery and not safe travel on our roadways. This is an unfortunate situation that you as residents, have an opportunity to fix by voting yes for the funding on Saturday, December 2nd at the voting poll.

Regarding the care of our Parks and Playgrounds, one of the theories of community policing is the now famous Broken Windows Theory, whereby people see a building with an unrepaired broken window and suddenly but surely, more broken windows appear and then the whole area can fall into disrepair, including public safety and more importantly, the perception of safety in the area.

This same theory applies to our parks, playgrounds and public spaces. These areas should be treated as capital assets of the community. When overflowing trash barrels and an unkempt appearance only leads to more trash, graffiti, etc. The appearance or lack thereof, then leads to less usage by residents of these public spaces. When this happens residents perceptions continue to degrade, along with the appearance of the area and the cycle continues. Our parks and playgrounds then hinder the quality of life and public safety in the town rather than enhance it. There is nothing better than a park or playground full of people who are the eyes and ears of public safety in a community.

Our Town Meeting and residents have supported hundreds of millions of dollars in capital improvements in this community over the last several years. It is time that we not be penny wise and pound foolish and support the town in protecting our investment. This is precisely why I urge my fellow residents to vote yes this Saturday and support public safety on our roadways and help the town to protect our parks, playgrounds and open spaces.

Sincerely,

Daniel C. Rosa
Chief of Police

Billerica – On Monday. October 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM, Billerica Police arrested Michael Girouard, 60, of 0 Brandon Street, Billerica, charging him with the armed robbery of Petrolex that occurred at approximately 3:20 AM yesterday. As mentioned in a Billerica Police press release from earlier today, Billerica PD responded to an Armed Robbery of Petrolex where a suspect brandished a large framed silver revolver at the clerk demanding cash. The suspect fled on foot after receiving the money and cigarettes. Later in the day, a second Armed Robbery occurred in Billerica at Variety Plus Convenience located on the opposite side of town. This incident involved a similarly described suspect also brandishing a large framed silver revolver. Additionally, in the early morning hours of Monday, October 16, 2017, at approximately 4:40 AM, a similarly described suspect and weapon was used to commit an Armed Robbery at a Mobile Station in Tewksbury on the Lowell line. These two Armed Robberies (Variety Plus and Mobile) have not yet been charged, however, authorities are actively working with newly developed leads in an attempt to issue charges in those cases as well.

At this time no additional individuals have been identified or charged in connection with the above incidents. All persons named are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Billerica – On Sunday, October 15, 2017 at approximately 0323 AM, Billerica PD responded to Petrolex, a fuel service station located at #80 Chelmsford Road in Billerica for a reported armed robbery.

Officers arrived to learn that an individual walked into the store and approached the clerk requesting cigarettes. As the clerk rang up the transaction, the suspect brandished a large framed silver revolver and pointed it at the clerk demanding the money from the register. The suspect subsequently fled the store on foot. The suspect was described as a white male, possibly in his mid-fifties, with salt a salt pepper colored mustache. The suspect also possibly had several tattoos on his neck and face. Later that same date, at approximately 1900 hours, the Billerica Police were dispatched to Variety Plus, located at #240 Nashua Road in Billerica for a reported Armed Robbery. Officer arrived to learn that an individual matching a similar description to the earlier robbery entered the store and brandished a similar large framed silver revolver directly at the clerk while demanding the cash from the register. The suspect fled on foot. Neither of the above armed robberies resulted in any physical injuries.

On Monday, October 16, 2017, at approximately 0440 am, the Tewksbury Police Department responded
to a call at #2 Main Street, Tewksbury for a reported Armed Robbery of the Mobile Gas Station. Their
investigation revealed that a suspect brandished a large framed silver revolver at the clerk demanding the cash from the register. Based on various factors revealed in their initial investigation, Tewksbury Police feel that this suspect is the same individual responsible for the above Billerica incidents. Nobody was reported to have suffered any physical injuries during this incident.

Due to the serious threat to public safety created by this suspect’s reckless and criminal acts, the
Billerica Police is releasing both still and video images of the suspect in an attempt to identify him. Any
information on this person’s identity may be provided anonymously through our business line, 978-667-1212, or through our web site at www.billericapolice.org.

The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

Any additional questions should be directed to Deputy Chief Roy Frost, 978-215-9653.