Gardner man charged with murder in knifing of Hubbardston man

Family of stabbing victim Christopher Starkweather listen Wednesday during the arraignment in Gardner District Court of Francis Arbolay, who is charged with murder. T&G Staff/Christine Hochkeppel
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• By George Barnes
  Telegram & Gazette Staff

  
  Posted Jan. 27, 2016 at 12:02 PM
  Updated Jan 27, 2016 at 11:17 PM
  
  

  GARDNER - Francis O. Arbolay, 21, was charged Wednesday in Gardner District Court with murder in the Jan. 20 stabbing death of 23-year-old Christopher Starkweather of Hubbardston.

  Mr. Arbolay, of 198 Pine St., Gardner, was also charged with one count of assault with intent to murder, and arraigned on an unrelated charge of assault and battery in connection with an incident that occurred Nov. 16. Judge Arthur Haley III ordered him held without bail for a hearing Feb. 23.

  The charge of assault with the intent to commit murder was for the stabbing of Jacob Vaillancourt, 29, of Gardner, who is hospitalized at UMass Memorial Medical Center n Worcester with multiple stab wounds.

  Mr. Vaillancourt told police the attack took place during a drug deal gone bad, according to court documents. He said Mr. Starkweather and others drove in a pickup truck to 244 Waterford St. to buy drugs from Mr. Arbolay. He said he was attacked when he walked over to Mr. Arbolay's vehicle to make the purchase. Mr. Arbolay, in the rear seat of the vehicle, grabbed his arms when he went to give him money, pulling him toward him. Mr. Arbolay then got out of the vehicle and the two started fighting.

  Mr. Vaillancourt said when he realized he was being stabbed, he tried to get the knife away from Mr. Arbolay while calling for help, according to court documents. He fell to the ground as Mr. Starkweather went to help him. He said Mr. Arbolay then turned on Mr. Starkweather and began to stab him. After stabbing him several times, Mr. Arbolay fled. Mr. Vaillancourt saw that Mr. Starkweather was not breathing and called to two others in the truck to help him get the victim into the truck. Unable to lift him, they left him there and drove Mr. Vaillancourt to Heywood Hospital, where he was treated for puncture wounds, a severe laceration to his right hand, and two collapsed lungs.

  Mr. Starkweather was dead when police found him. An autopsy showed he died from puncture wounds consistent with being stabbed.

  Mr. Arbolay was allowed to remain out of sight of the courtroom during the arraignment. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Hodgens said that after the attack, Mr. Arbolay left the two men bleeding in the street and drove away.

  District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Mr. Arbolay turned himself in at Fitchburg District Court Wednesday. The district attorney was unable to say whether anyone else will be charged in the case. He said more than 20 Gardner and state police worked together on the case developing evidence that led to charges against Mr. Arbolay.