North Adams Man Indicted on Murder, Arson Charges
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Darius Hazard was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder related to deaths of his parents last November.
Hazard, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charges and to a third charge of arson of a dwelling house.
He is being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction, where he has been housed since Nov. 25.
Hazard is accused of assaulting his parents, Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76, on Nov. 24, 2025, and setting fire to the family on Francis Street.
The bodies of his parents were discovered in the home by firefighters.
North Adams Police said Hazard allegedly confessed to the assaults and the arson when he was taken into custody that day.
Hazard was initially arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 26 and was to appear for a pretrial hearing on March 3. That hearing was postponed but he was indicted March 23 on the felony charges and his case removed to Berkshire Superior Court.
The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2026, in Superior Court.
Tags: arson, murder,
