Medford Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

Police Say Fight Led to January 2007 Stabbing

A Medford man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will spend fifteen to eighteen years in prison.

Gershon Douglas, 19, of Medford, pleaded guilty today to manslaughter for the January 21, 2007 homicide of James Bottiglio, 21, also of Medford.

Prosecutors say an argument between the victim and Douglas turned physical during the early morning hours of that day. Police found Bottiglio outside of Douglas’ mother’s Foster Court apartment suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

According to police, Douglas was covered with blood and was inside his mother’s apartment with bleach trying to clean up evidence of the stabbing.

Douglas was charged with trespassing in addition to armed assault with intent to murder, as he had a no-trespassing order against him from the housing project.

Douglas has been held without bail since January 26, 2007 and will now serve time in state prison.

– InsideMedford.com