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LEOMINSTER — The attorney for a Leominster man charged with the murder of his wife in December has recently filed a notice of intent to raise the defendant’s mental health condition at the time of the alleged offense as part of the trial.

James E. Marsh, 65, of 209 Union St., was initially arraigned on Dec. 29 at Leominster District Court on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, a gun, on Leominster Officer Tiffany Beaupre, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, causing serious bodily injury, upon his wife, Ann Marsh.

Then on March 17, Marsh pleaded not guilty to all charges at a second arraignment in Worcester County Superior Court, but the only charge listed at that time was for first degree murder, indicating the other charges may have been dropped and/or upgraded.

Marsh’s attorney, Blake Rubin, who agreed to represent Marsh on behalf of the state, entered the mental health motion in Superior Court on Sept. 9, with an associated motion that counsel be present when the state examines Marsh, as to his mental state.

In March, it was determined Marsh would continue to be held in prison without bail since he was facing a first degree murder charge.

911 call

On the day after Christmas, as the case was about to unfold, police responded to a 911 call at 2:55 p.m. on Dec. 26, 2025, at 209 Union St., in Leominster.

The call disconnected, but when police arrived at the home, they found a man sitting on his couch next to a body under a sheet. According to police, the man pointed the gun at the responding officer, Officer Beaupre, and she backed away.

After a four-hour standoff, it was discovered that the woman, Marsh’s wife, Ann, was dead.

“During an altercation with his wife at home, he shot and killed his wife. The police responded to the home and he pointed the firearm at the responding police officer,” said Assistant District Attorney Brett Dillon, in court on Dec. 29.

Officer Beaupre reported that when she and Officer Kyle Abazorius arrived at the home, she saw an unlocked side door at 3:04 p.m. Not getting any response from anyone in the house, they sought and got approval from supervisors to enter the house. Beaupre said she heard what she thought was a moaning sound and believed that someone was in medical distress.

According to court records, “As Officer Beaupre made her way through the residence, she observed an adult male seated on a couch. Officer Beaupre spoke with the male and asked if he was okay. During this interaction, Officer Beaupre believed the male was holding a firearm pointed in her direction.”

“Officer Beaupre further believed she observed a second individual on the couch, covered with a blanket and not moving.”

She then left the house, taking a defensive position outside, shouting “Gun!” over her police radio, court records state.

Marsh then barricaded himself in the house, and a four-hour standoff ensued. The Leominster Police, members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Unit, including hostage negotiation personnel and state police detectives arrived on scene. A police drone camera monitored the scene from the sky.

Eventually, at 7:29 p.m., police were able to talk Marsh into surrendering peacefully, and he came out of the house and was arrested.

Checking the house, officers found Marsh’s wife, Ann Marsh, lying dead on the couch, with an obvious head injury.

The next action in the case is a scheduling conference on Oct. 1 at Worcester Superior Court.

Original article