Cambridge Woman Indicted On Murder Charge In Connection With Father’s Death

Arraignment date set for January 9

 

A Cambridge woman has been indicted on murder charges in connection with the death of her 62-year-old father, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Gylene Verna, 29, of Cambridge, was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery causing serious injury on a person over the age of 60, assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, assault and battery on a public employee and assault and battery.

She was indicted on December 20 and will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on January 9 at 9 am in courtroom 440.


According to authorities, on November 20, 2011, EMS personnel responded to 77 Elm Street in Cambridge for a medical call.  Upon arrival, they located the victim, 62 year old Guy Verna, of Cambridge, who was transported to Cambridge City Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

 

An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation due to manual strangulation and the manner of death a homicide.

 

It is alleged that the defendant physically assaulted the victim, her father, after a verbal altercation, resulting in the victim’s death.  The defendant was arrested later in the day on November 20, 2011 on the charge of domestic assault and battery and was arraigned on November 21, 2011, where she was held pending a dangerousness hearing.  She was charged with murder on November 23, 2011 and arraigned on November 30, 2011 where Cambridge District Court Judge Roanne Sragow ordered the defendant held without bail. 

These charges are allegations and the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty.

 
The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the case are General Counsel for the MDAO Marian Ryan and David Solet, Chief of the Cyber Protection Program.  The Victim Witness Advocate is Helena Clarke.  This case was investigated by Cambridge Police and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.