Blake Scanlon, 26. (HAMPDEN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY”S OFFICE PHOTO)
NORTHAMPTON- A Westfield man who is awaiting trial in connection with a 2019 murder was arraigned on three new criminal counts based on an alleged plot to kill the prosecutor and a witness in his case.
Blake Scanlon, 26, is awaiting trial for the 2019 slaying of his girlfriend and mother of his child Alexis Avery, who was 20 at the time of her death. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of solicitation to commit murder and one count of solicitation to intimidate a witness. He was arraigned by Hampshire Superior Court Judge John Agostini May 20.
In a statement from the office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, Scanlon is alleged to have targeted Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Green, who is prosecuting Scanlon’s murder case. He is also alleged to have targeted witness Ericalynn Condurcari.
Officials allege that Scanlon recruited a fellow inmate at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction to carry out the murders. Part of his plot was to intimidate Condurcari from testifying if the murder could not be carried out.
The inmate that Scanlon recruited ultimately disclosed the plot to authorities.
Scanlon’s case was continued to Aug. 10.
Scanlon is accused of killing Avery in their White Street apartment in Westfield in January of 2019. According to the police statement, Scanlon stabbed Avery to death on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. That Sunday, Jan. 13, police said Scanlon inflicted several lacerations on his own forearms before calling the police on himself.
He was arraigned in Westfield District Court on Jan. 14 for charges of murder, domestic assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. His charges were eventually moved to Springfield Superior Court, where they have jurisdiction over homicide charges.
