UPDATE: Colono Found Guilty for 2010 Pearl Street Home Invasion

“I am extremely proud of the extraordinary effort and devotion that our department put into this case, from solving the crime to comforting and advising the victims throughout this ordeal,” said Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert C. Haas.  “Were it not for the professionalism of our responding officers and the tireless work of our investigators, Mr. Colono may never have been brought to justice for the horrible crimes he committed.  We hope the guilty verdict and sentencing will help bring closure to all those affected.”

The following is a press release from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office:

WOBURN - A Cambridge man has been found guilty in connection with a 2010 Cambridge home invasion, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Marcos Colono, 35, was found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court Jury of home invasion (2 counts), aggravated rape of a child with force (2 counts), assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child and armed assault with the intent to murder following a 12 day trial in Woburn Superior Court.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Thomas Billings sentenced the defendant to 60-70 years in prison on the home invasion and aggravated rape charges, and to an additional 14-15 years in prison to run from and after on the assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges.  The defendant was also sentenced to 20 years probation on the assault with intent to murder charge that is to run concurrent with the prison sentences and he was ordered to have no contact with any of the Commonwealth witnesses. 

“With today’s verdict, the defendant was found guilty of a vicious, horrific random crime of extreme violence that victimized the father and son he assaulted and placed an entire community in fear,” District Attorney Leone said.  “This crime strikes a chord with every person and every parent, who expect and deserve the right to feel safe and secure in their own home.  I commend the bravery of the victims in coming forward under such painful circumstances and the tireless efforts of the Cambridge and Boston police departments, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab and the Boston Police Department Crime Lab, who worked so cooperatively and diligently to identify the defendant.  All of their efforts ensured that today Marcos Colono was held accountable for his heinous actions.”

According to authorities, on August 26, 2010 at approximately 1:00 a.m., Cambridge Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a home invasion by an unknown assailant on Pearl Street in Cambridge.  Upon their arrival, authorities located the two victims, evidencing stab wounds, and transported them to the hospital.

Authorities launched an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the incident.   They learned that the defendant entered the home and attacked the victims -- raping the young son and stabbing the father so many times he nearly died of blood loss -- before fleeing the residence.

Through investigation, DNA evidence from the Cambridge crime scene was linked to DNA evidence found at a separate Boston crime scene through an analysis made via the CODIS system, a national DNA database which is funded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  The defendant was first identified when a bloody fingerprint located at the Cambridge crime scene was determined to match the defendant’s fingerprints on file at the Boston Police Department relating to a resolved matter from 1998. Subsequently, DNA taken from the defendant was linked to that DNA evidence found at the Cambridge crime scene.

The defendant was arrested on October 6, 2010 and arraigned the following day in Cambridge District Court where Judge Roanne Sragow ordered the defendant held on $1 million cash bail with conditions. He was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on November 4, 2010.

This case was investigated by the Cambridge Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to this case are Thomas O’Reilly, Elissa Torto and Laura Kirshenbaum.  The victim witness advocate is Susan Marshall.  The paralegals are Erika Willey and Katelyn Canty.