Justice unsettled: The 1982 Lowell fire

On March 5, 1982, a fire broke out in an apartment house in Lowell. It was the worst fatal fire in Lowell history, killing eight people, including five children.

Victor Rosario was charged with eight counts of murder and one count of arson in connection with the fatal fire. He was convicted in 1983. But a New England Center for Investigative Reporting, or NECIR, investigation found the prosecution's case was marred with possible misconduct including allegedly misstating witness information, filing false search warrant applications, and coercing a confession.

On March 5, 1982, a fire broke out in an apartment house in Lowell. It was the worst fatal fire in Lowell history, killing eight people, including five children. Victor Rosario was charged with eight counts of murder and one count of arson in connection with the fatal fire. He was convicted in 1983. But a New England Center for Investigative Reporting, or NECIR, investigation found the prosecution's case was marred with possible misconduct including allegedly misstating witness information, filing false search warrant applications, and coercing a confession.
AP file photo

E-mail this article

Invalid E-mail address
Invalid E-mail address

Sending your article

Your article has been sent.