A Taunton man faces a murder charge following the death of his 37-year-old girlfriend, who was found unresponsive at the bottom of a staircase in his townhome on Thursday afternoon, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
- The Victim: Shannon Smith, 37, of Bridgewater. She was transported to Morton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
- The Suspect: Matthew Cruz, who resides at the 8 Allcot Circle townhome where the incident occurred.
- The Incident: Taunton police responded to an emergency call reporting an unconscious woman just before 1 p.m. Investigators confirmed Smith and Cruz were in a relationship and determined her death was the result of a domestic incident between the two.
- Next Steps: Cruz was arrested at the scene and charged with one count of murder. He is scheduled for arraignment on Friday at 9 a.m. in Taunton District Court. The investigation remains ongoing.
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