2 more men charged in death of Worcester man found in Hubbardston

WORCESTER — Two men have been charged with being accessories after the fact in connection with the killing of a Worcester man whose beaten body was found in a wooded area of Hubbardston.

They are accused of helping move the body from Worcester, according to court records.

Richard Gabrila, 39, of 39 First St., Worcester, and Shane J. Bowen, 28, of 53 Bacon St., Warren, were arraigned in Worcester Central District Court last week.

The body of Mitchell Burke, 32, was found on a cart path in a wooded area near 51 Brighton St. in Hubbardston before 10 a.m. Jan. 4.

Burke had suffered “substantial trauma” to the head, including a fracture to the skull, and “heavy bruising” to the chest and upper/lower abdomen, according to the police statement of facts.

Burke’s pants had been pulled down to his knees, according to the statement of facts.

Investigators spoke to Burke’s mother, who told them that her son had left her house to meet up with his former boss, Ryan Wilcox, on the evening of Dec. 31, according to the statement of facts.

Wilcox, 32, of Thompson, Connecticut, has been charged with armed assault with intent to kill, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon. Wilcox was also arraigned last week.

During an interview with investigators, Wilcox acknowledged that he struck Burke in the head “numerous times” with a metal bat, according to court records.

Court records do not give a motive.

On Jan. 6, Bowen – who was previously identified as a person who had been with Burke and Wilcox on the evening of Burke’s disappearance – requested to speak to investigators.

During the interview, Bowen said he was involved with the disposal of Burke’s body in Hubbardston, according to the statement of facts, filed with court records.

Bowen said he helped in the “clean-up” of the crime scene and the “disposal” of additional evidence, according to the statement of facts.

Bowen also allegedly told investigators that Gabrila had driven a white Ford F-150 truck belonging to Wilcox from 27 Cowden St., Worcester, where the assault allegedly took place, to the area of Hubbardston where the body was discovered.

Gabrila then allegedly drove the Ford F-150 back to 27 Cowden St. to be dropped off, then drove Burke’s Subaru Outback to Orchard Hill Drive in Oxford.

Bowen then picked up Gabrila in Bowen’s car, according to the statement of facts. While driving home, Gabrila disposed of the keys to Burke’s car in a sewer drain off of Airport Drive in Worcester.

Judge Jaclyn Greenhaigh entered a not guilty plea of Gabrila’s behalf. Bail for Gabrila was set at $20,000 cash, with $200,000 surety.

Judge Zachary Hillman entered a not guilty plea on Bowen’s behalf. Bowen was released on personal recognizance with the pretrial condition of wearing an electric monitoring device. He was also ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the victim’s family.

A detention hearing due to dangerousness is slated for Wilcox on Tuesday, while probable cause hearings are scheduled Feb. 3 for Gabrila and on Feb. 4 for Bowen.

Obituary Mitchell A. Burke

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 2 more men charged in death of Worcester man found in Hubbardston

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