On Monday, March 4th Darel A. Galorenzo pleaded guilty to three charges, including manslaughter, in the death of his son. The plea took place in Berkshire Superior Court. The charges and sentences are as follows:
| Count | Charge | Sentence |
| 1 | Manslaughter | 9 to 15 years in State Prison |
| 2 | Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law | Nol. Pros. Upon successful completion of the plea |
| 3 | Operating Under the Influence of Liquor Over .08 | 2.5 years in the House of Corrections, concurrent with count #1 |
| 4 | Operating Under the Influence, While Endangering A Child | 2.5 years in the House of Corrections, from and after count #3, concurrent with count #1 |
The Defendant was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Agostini on count 1 of Manslaughter to 9 to 15 years in State Prison. This sentence is three times the state sentencing guidelines. (The sentencing guideline call for a sentence of three years.)
District Attorney Shugrue represented the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth requested a sentence of 12 to 15 years in State Prison. The Defense requested a sentence of 4 years in the House of Correction with probation on and after.
Following the plea, District Attorney Shugrue released a statement:
“It gave me no pleasure to appear in court today to settle this horrific case. Mr. Galorenzo’s actions on April 7th and 8th of 2023 directly caused the death of his son. I will spare the public of the traumatic details of the incidents that led to a two-year-old child’s death which included first surviving a car crash then ultimately drowning on a cold, dark night in a river rushing with melting snow. However, I wish to express that this is one of the most tragic cases I have seen in my almost 40 years of practicing law. These sentiments have also been shared by the judge involved in this case.
During my term as District Attorney, I have stated multiple times that children are the most vulnerable members in our community. They deserve our protection. Mr. Galorenzo, the child’s father, failed at this cardinal task. He put himself and his needs over the safety of his child.
I commend the Court for sentencing Mr. Galorenzo to serve a sentence three times longer than the recommendations of the sentencing guidelines. That said, no amount of time served will ever bring justice for the death of this innocent toddler. After today’s hearing, I spoke with the mother of the toddler who died due to the reckless actions of Mr. Galorenzo. I shared my sincerest condolences, but I recognize my words most likely bring little comfort to her devastating loss. As a parent myself, I cannot imagine the deep sadness she is experiencing.
I am immensely thankful for my staff and law enforcement who worked tirelessly to bring this case to justice. They devoted themselves from the first moment of emergency response until today’s sentencing. I also commend the Massachusetts State Police Officer, Trooper Ryan Costello, who heroically put his own life at risk to enter the river multiple times in attempts to rescue the child.
I am certain that every person who dedicated themselves to this case will be haunted by it for the remainder of their lives.”
Response and investigating law enforcement on the case included the North Adams Police; North Adams Fire; Massachusetts State Police Cheshire Barracks; Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit; Massachusetts State Police Collisions Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS); and Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit oversaw the investigation. Berkshire District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue represented the Commonwealth. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Yorlano served as a second seat on the case. Director of Victim Witness Advocates, Jane Kibby-Peirce, served on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office.
Please see the press release below for details on the case. This release was sent on April 8, 2023, the morning of the incident.
April 8, 2023: Galorenzo Charged in Clarksburg Motor Vehicle Crash/ Toddler Death
The Massachusetts State Police are investigating the death of a young child following a crash early this morning in Clarksburg. Preliminary investigation suggests a two-year-old boy died after his father, while fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle crash on foot, lost the child in a brook.
A Trooper from the State Police-Cheshire Barracks and Clarksburg Firefighters who responded to the crash located and pulled the child from Hudson Brook. The child was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The child’s father, DAREL A. GALORENZO, 35, of Readsboro, Vt., was determined to have been operating under the influence and was taken into custody by State Police. Further charges related to the death of the child are expected and will be determined upon completion of the ongoing investigation.
At 1:58 AM Troopers from State Police-Cheshire were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Middle Road in Clarksburg, in the area of #443. Within minutes, a Trooper and EMS were on scene and immediately learned that a young child who had been in the vehicle, a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek, was unaccounted for. GALORENZO, the driver and the toddler’s father, was present in the area of the brook as well.
Troopers and Firefighters immediately began searching Hudson Brook for the child, and located him in the water shortly before 2:20 AM, in an area of the brook close to #150 Middle Road. Within moments a Trooper and fire personnel recovered the toddler from the brook and EMTs began immediate emergency first-aid on scene for drowning injuries.
The child was transported Berkshire Medical Center in North Adams, where he was pronounced deceased.
Meanwhile, Troopers on-scene made observations of GALORENZO consistent with his being intoxicated. GALORENZO was also transported to Berkshire Medical Center for evaluation under police guard. After he was examined and discharged, a Trooper transported him to the Cheshire Barracks, where he remains in custody. In addition to the OUI and negligent operation of a motor vehicle charges, additional charges related to the toddler’s death are anticipated.
The facts and circumstances of the incident remain under investigation by the State Police Detective Unit for Berkshire County, the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Cheshire Barracks, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.