Suspect in Nov. murder arraigned

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) - A New Bedford man accused of murder was formally arraigned Monday in a Fall River courtroom. Thomas Gardner entered a plea of not guilty, and was held without bail.

Gardner, 35, was indicted in July on several felony charges, including the murder of 36-year-old Michael Duarte, as well as armed robbery, violating a restraining order and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Duarte's body was found in the basement of a vacant home on Churchill Street last November. He was a father of two children. Officials said Duarte's girlfriend had become concerned after not seeing him for several days.

A lawyer for the prosecution said in court Monday, when Duarte's body was found, "he'd been wrapped and taped up in a tarp and put underneath the stairs... A large number of objects including paint cans had been put over him."

Police said they found Gardner driving Duarte's car the same day in Connecticut, and arrested him after a high-speed chase.

Duarte had reportedly been inquiring about buying Gardner's home.

Gardner was transported from Connecticut -- where he'd been serving part of his sentence for leading police on a chase -- to Massachusetts over the weekend, to make his appearance in court Monday.

The Bristol County District Attorney's office said they're still trying to tie Gardner to the scene with DNA evidence. Police said Gardner told them he did meet with Duarte, but never went inside the home.