Kevin Gonsalves, 33, of Milford, was shot to death the night of November 20, 2015, after being brought to a vacant house at 139 Mendon Street in Blackstone. The call came in about 7:35 p.m.; a neighbor reported hearing gunshots and first responders found Gonsalves dead at the scene. Investigators said he had been shot multiple times, including in the head and chest.

Prosecutors allege William Hodges and his half-brother Brendan Bates drove Gonsalves to the Blackstone house under the false pretense of robbing a drug dealer or marijuana grower. Once there, Hodges and Gonsalves exited the vehicle and Hodges shot Gonsalves. Witnesses reported screams followed by three gunshots. Authorities said the killing grew out of a dispute between Hodges and Gonsalves; later reporting linked the dispute to Gonsalves becoming romantically involved with Hodges’ wife.

Hodges and Bates were arrested two days later and initially charged with murder and misleading an investigation. Bates’ murder charge was later dropped by a grand jury; Hodges was indicted and ultimately pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and related counts, receiving aggregate prison terms.