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Slain Brockton mom and son died from head injuries, prosecutors say

Posted by John Ellement  February 15, 2011 12:21 PM
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By Globe Staff

The mother and son whose bodies were found stuffed in a duffel bag and thrown into a trash dumpster in Brockton both died from blows to the head, according to Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz's office.

Maria Avelina Palaguachi-Cela and the body of her son, Brian - who would have turned 3 next month -- were discovered Sunday night in the trash bin behind the Warren Avenue home where the victims had been living, authorities have said.

Today, Cruz's office said in a statement that the state medical examiner's office has determined that Palaguachi-Cela and her son both died from "blunt force trauma to the brain and head" and that they both had been murdered.

No arrests have been made, prosecutors said today. The deaths remain under investigation by Brockton police and State Police.

Palaguachi-Cela was 25 years old and the mother of three children. The Globe reported today that she was a native of Ecuador who was living with her common law husband in Brockton.

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