Mathew Locke convicted of murdering West Brookfield mother, three children

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WORCESTER, Mass. — A jury on Wednesday found Mathew Locke guilty of four counts of first-degree murder in the 2018 killings of Sara Bermudez and her three young children in West Brookfield, marking the conclusion of a harrowing trial that spanned nearly a month.

Locke, 38, formerly of Ware, was convicted in the deaths of Bermudez, 38, and her children—Madison, 8; James, 6; and Michael, 2—whose bodies were discovered inside their home on Old Warren Road. Prosecutors presented evidence that Locke committed the murders with deliberate premeditation, extreme atrocity and cruelty, and during the commission of felonies, including armed burglary and aggravated rape.

The jury also found Locke guilty of armed burglary and arson, noting evidence of a fire at the scene that had extinguished itself. Deliberations lasted approximately 10 hours, capping a four-week trial that included testimony from over 70 witnesses and the presentation of more than 1,000 exhibits.

“The deaths of this mother and her children were some of the most heinous ever seen by this office,” said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., who commended the prosecutorial team and law enforcement agencies for their thorough investigation and trial preparation.

Locke’s conviction provides a measure of closure in a case that devastated the West Brookfield community. DA Early thanked the jury, law enforcement, and victim advocates for their efforts, expressing hope that the verdict will offer some justice to the victims’ surviving family.