Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon have confirmed that Anthony Canejo Senior, 57, of Somerville, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court to manslaughter, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in violation of a restraining order, violating a restraining order and improper disposal of human remains in connection with the 2014 death of Vincent Lalli, 66, of Somerville. Judge Merita Hopkins sentenced the defendant to 18 to 20 years in prison with ten years probation from and after during which the defendant was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet. 

On January 29, 2014, at approximately 4:30 p.m. a man walking his dog near the Coakley Middle School in Norwood discovered several plastic bags containing human remains next to two dark suitcases with blood on them, as well as a bloody towel. The decedent had no identification on him. On January 30, 2014, investigators identified the victim through a fingerprint examination and determined that the remains belonged to Vincent Lalli. The Norwood Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office began an investigation in both Norwood and Somerville where the victim resided. They later learned that the homicide had taken place in Somerville in Middlesex County.

Through their investigation authorities learned that the victim had two roommates at his Sycamore Street address in Somerville, Anthony Canejo Senior and his son, Anthony Canejo Junior, 34. On January 17, 2014, the victim had taken out a restraining order against Canejo Senior requiring the defendant to stay away from, and not abuse the victim, and to leave and stay away from the Sycamore Street residence.

Authorities learned that, in the early morning hours of January 24, 2014, the defendant had contacted Canejo Junior inquiring if the victim was asleep so that he could return to the residence unnoticed and retrieve his personal belongings. Believing the victim was asleep, the defendant arrived at the apartment where the victim confronted him. A physical altercation between the defendant and victim ensued resulting in the death of the victim. Canejo Senior then dismembered the victim in the apartment bathtub. On the evenings of January 24 and 25, 2014, police confirmed through surveillance footage that the defendant and his son had cashed winning lottery tickets recently purchased by the victim.

On January 26, 2014, the defendant and his son disposed of the victim’s remains in Norwood. A second set of remains were located near train tracks behind Somerville High School on March 30, 2014. Based on the state of decomposition and dismemberment the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the manner of death to be homicidal violence but a precise cause of death could not be identified due to the condition of the body. The defendant was arrested on February 13, 2014, and his son was taken into custody on February 14, 2014. Both men were arraigned in Somerville District Court on February 14.

Anthony Canejo Junior is charged with being an accessory after the fact and two counts of receiving stolen property. A next date has not yet been scheduled for his case

This investigation was conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Somerville Police Department, the Norwood Police Department, the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain. The Victim Witness Advocate was Anne Foley.

— Office of Middlesex District Attorney