Crime

Man charged with murder, 2 others with assault in deadly Leominster stabbing

Juan Diaz Contreras, 19, of Fitchburg, was arrested for the murder of 20-year-old Robert Wright Day.

May 11, 2024

1 minute to read

A Fitchburg man is facing a murder charge, and two others are facing assault and battery charges in the fatal Leominster stabbing of 20-year-old Robert Wright Day.

Following an investigation, Juan Diaz Contreras, 19, was arrested without incident on Thursday night at his Fitchburg home after police sought a warrant for his arrest, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.’s office announced Friday.

Edgar K. Perez-Tuero, 21, of Gardner, and Christian Joel Santiago, 19, of Leominster, were also arrested on warrants in connection to the slaying.

According to Early’s office, all three men were due to be arraigned Friday in Fitchburg District Court.

Investigators said Day was found with stab wounds outside of the Riverside Village Apartment complex on State Street just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday. He was transported to Leominster Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A GoFundMe that was created to help Day’s family with funeral expenses describes him as “a vibrant 20-year-old young man just beginning his life.”

“Robert was taken from us unexpectedly this morning at the hands of another. No family should have to endure so much pain as a result of such an unexpected tragedy,” the organizer, Cammie Rivera, said in a message on the GoFundMe page.

Family said Day was a Leominster High School graduate and a star football player while previously attending Athol High School.

The fundraiser had raised over $14,000 as of Friday night.