North Adams — Resident Darius Hazard, 44, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Tuesday, November 25, on multiple charges in connection with a house fire that led to the death of his parents.
According to Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office Chief of Operations Julia Sabourin, Darius Hazard has been arraigned on one charge of arson and two charges of murder in connection to the deaths of his parents, Venture Hazard, 76, and Donald Hazard, 83.
Sabourin wrote in a press release that Darius Hazard was brought into custody on Monday, November 24, and that he confessed to law enforcement officials that he physically assaulted his parents inside their home at 77 Francis Street.
Darius Hazard also admitted that, following the physical assault, he poured gasoline on the first floor of the home and set the house ablaze. After setting the house on fire, he drove away.
Sabourin wrote that firefighters discovered the bodies of Venture and Donald Hazard in the house, with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determining their causes of death to be smoke inhalation.
When law enforcement responded to the scene of the fire, they determined that Darius Hazard, who resided at the house, was not present at the scene and that his car was missing.
A warning was subsequently issued to law enforcement to be on the lookout for Darius Hazard and his car.
State Police eventually found Darius Hazard and his car at the North Adams parking lot and subsequently took him into custody without incident.
In relation to the case, Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy Shugrue issued the following statement:
I’d first like to recognize the tremendous courage of the North Adams firefighters as they entered the house without hesitation in hopes of recovering the residents inside. Responding to this type of situation is harrowing and has lasting impacts on first responders. I am thankful for their dedication to this difficult work.
My thoughts are with the Hazard family and the North Adams community during this extraordinarily challenging time.
