Massachusetts

There was a very special visitor at Massachusetts General Hospital this week — “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds made a stop in Boston to see a young boy battling a rare form of cancer.

The visit became a reality when the Nash’s mother sent Reynolds a picture of her son wearing a radiation mask that was decorated to look like “Deadpool.” After receiving the photo, Reynolds made arrangements to surprise the 8-year-old on Friday.

During their visit, Reynolds and Nash took a selfie together with the radiation mask.

MGH said in a Facebook post Nash, who is at Mass General for Children and Mass General Cancer Center for treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma, considers Reynolds a beloved superhero, comedian and now friend.

Nash was also surprised with a FaceTime from actor Hugh Jackman, who plays Deadpool’s friend Wolverine.

MGH shared a video on Facebook that captured the excitement when Nash met Reynolds — a moment that Nash and his family will cherish forever.

More on Ryan Reynolds

news

Sep 20

Ryan Reynolds credits his business success to 1 skill: It’s a ‘precious commodity’ in any job, expert says

Celebrity News

Aug 14

Ryan Reynolds discusses ‘complicated relationship’ with late father who died of Parkinson’s disease

May 14

Ryan Reynolds on parenting 4 kids while Blake Lively was away: ‘No one died, which was nice’

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Massachusetts State Police provided an update Sunday in their response to the sudden death of Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia, saying they have taken a number of actions including suspended full-contact boxing training activities between trainees until further notice.

The 25-year-old Delgado-Garcia was badly injured at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree and died the following day at a hospital. State police have said the injuries happened during a defensive tactics training exercise.

Delgado-Garcia, who was sworn in as a trooper in the last hours of his life in the presence of classmates, members of the department and his loved ones, previously worked for the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office as a victim witness advocate, causing District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. to cite a conflict of interest and seek an outside agency to handle the investigation.

Sunday, state police said Col. John Mawn had requested a full investigation of the matter on the day of the incident. State police said they are fully cooperating with investigatory authorities and urging the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to name an independent investigator as soon as possible.

Col. Mawn also directed the State Police Division of Standards and Training to comprehensively review the Academy’s defensive tactics program. That review remains ongoing and will ensure that the program delivers relevant skills safely and effectively to those preparing to become Troopers, state police said.

The review is assessing safety protocols, training methods and curriculum, alignment with law enforcement objectives, medical and health considerations, alternative approaches, and soliciting feedback from recruits and instructors and information from peer organizations and subject matter experts, they added.

The State Police Academy has suspended full-contact boxing training activities between trainees until further notice. There was no immediate word on how long that will be paused.

Another responsive action by state police includes Col. Mawn dispatching peer support resources and employee assistance unit to the Academy to provide support and maintain a physical presence for the duration of the recruit training troop, the department said Sunday.

“The Massachusetts State Police Academy maintains a rigorous curriculum program to prepare trainees for the challenging and often dangerous profession of a Massachusetts State Trooper. Trainees undergo wide-ranging education that emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and respect for one another in accordance with the law and the Department’s values. This approach prepares new troopers to navigate the complexities of modern policing while ensuring officer safety and efficacy and fostering public trust,” state police said in a statement.

State police went on to say that the tragic death of Delgado-Garcia, a dedicated member of the 90th Recruit Training Troop at the Massachusetts State Police Academy, has forever changed the lives of his family, friends, and colleagues who have been profoundly impacted by his loss.

“The department continues to extend its deepest sympathy and support to his grieving loved ones and our devastated department members as the investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding his death continues,” state police said.

State police declined to provide wake and burial arrangements for Delgado-Garcia, referring those questions to the family’s representative out of respect for them.

State police did say however that they have offered the Delgado-Garcia family the full measure of ceremonial support for his wake and burial.

“As in the death of any member, the specific ceremonial components are tailored to the family’s wishes,” they concluded.

More on Enrique Delgado-Garcia’s death

Enrique Delgado-Garcia

Sep 20

ACLU says feds should take over investigation of Enrique Delgado-Garcia’s death

Massachusetts

Sep 20

Questions remain in trooper’s death, lead investigator still undecided

Massachusetts

Sep 18

Former classmate of Mass. State Police recruit speaks out as death investigation continues

Three people are injured after a crash Sunday evening on Route 3 in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

The Duxbury Fire Department is advising people to avoid the area of the motor vehicle accident on Route 3 northbound before Exit 22.

Not many detail…

Police are investigating a stabbing in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood on Saturday night.

Boston police said they responded to a report of a person stabbed in the area of 555 Talbot Avenue around 11:24 p.m. Saturday.

When they found …

Authorities are alerting citizens of North Attleboro, Massachusetts that bulls are on the loose from a nearby rodeo.

North Attleboro fire says eight bulls are loose from the rodeo at the Emerald Square Mall.

Authorities say to not approach …

A group of people gathered on a rainy Saturday in Stoughton, Massachusetts, calling for justice for Sandra Birchmore.

Demonstrators were out with signs, wearing light blue and white in support of Birchmore, who was 23 years old when she was found dead in her Stoughton apartment back in early 2021.

“We’re out here today just trying to make the public more aware of what happened to Sandra and keep her name in the public eye,” said Melissa Berry, who attended Saturday’s standout. “Finally Matthew Farwell was arrested for her murder, but we still have a long way to go with her case to get other people under lock and key also.”

Former Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell was indicted on charges last month that he strangled Birchmore on about Feb. 1, 2021. He’s accused of sexually exploiting her when she was underage and then continuing to have sex with her when she was an adult.

Farwell allegedly tried to stage her death as a suicide after she told him she was pregnant and he was the father.

The 38-year-old entered a not guilty plea during an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, where he was handcuffed and led out of the room.

Authorities allege that Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent authorities from finding out details of his sexual offenses. Farwell worked as an officer for the police department in Stoughton, south of Boston, for 10 years, from 2012 until 2022.

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Kelleher previously called the allegations against Farwell “depraved.”

“Matthew Farwell’s gun and badge did not grant him authority to violate the constitution, and it certainly didn’t entitle him to sexually exploit, abuse, and rape a child before killing her and her unborn baby in an attempt to cover up his alleged crimes,” he said.

“The alleged murder of Sandra is a horrific injustice,” McNamara said. “The allegations against the suspect, a former Stoughton Police Officer, represent the single worst act of not just professional misconduct but indeed human indecency that I have observed in a nearly three-decade career in law enforcement.”

Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara said last month that the department had worked with other agencies, including the FBI, to investigate.

“The day after Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment, I ordered a lengthy and aggressive internal affairs investigation, the instructions of which made it clear that no stone should be left unturned,” McNamara said in an earlier statement.

Farwell is scheduled to return to court for a status conference on Oct. 17.

Sandra Birchmore stories

Sandra Birchmore

Sep 9

Upcoming hearing for ex-Stoughton officer accused of killing Sandra Birchmore canceled. Here’s why

Sandra Birchmore

Sep 3

‘Her family deserves answers and she deserves justice’: Gov. Healey weighs in on Sandra Birchmore case

Sandra Birchmore

Aug 29

TIMELINE: Sandra Birchmore’s contacts with Stoughton officer now accused of killing her