A Concord Connection to Hub Homicide Case

A South Boston man arraigned last month on charges of killing an acquaintance allegedly confessed to the crime here in Concord. Martin Jiminez, 43, of South Boston, was held without bail on June 27 following his arraignment in South Boston District Court in connection with the death of 33-year-old Melissa Hardy.

While the alleged crime occurred in Jiminez’s basement apartment, the first breadcrumb on the trail that led to his arrest was picked up in Concord.

 According to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, on Monday, June 24, Jiminez was arrested in Concord for allegedly operating under the influence and then transported to an area hospital for treatment. The car he was driving in at the time of the arrest belonged to one of Hardy’s family members.

Neither the Concord Police Department nor the Massachusetts State Police have a record of arresting Jiminez for OUI on June 24 – or any time that week. But a State Police spokesman indicated he could have been pulled over and transported immediately to the hospital, with charges to follow.

Jiminez was, in fact, transported to Emerson Hospital. There, he reportedly confessed to two patients that he killed Hardy, with whom he had been in an on-again, off-again relationship for several years.

The patients then alerted the authorities, according to the Suffolk DA’s press release, which led Boston Police to Jiminez’s South Boston apartment where they found Hardy’s remains in his padlocked bedroom, her body showing signs of physical trauma.

Subsequently, Boston detectives requested that Concord Police check Emerson Hospital for Jiminez.

Concord officers located Jiminez and arrested him on a warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. After he was turned over to Boston PD, Jiminez was arrested in connection with Hardy’s death.

According to the Suffolk DA’s press release, the relationship between Jiminez and Hardy ended several weeks ago after he allegedly struck her and she left to live with her family in Weymouth.  

“This appears to be a case of deadly domestic violence by a man who abused his partner before,” Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said in a statement. “If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, help is out there. Police, prosecutors and advocates are ready to help.”

Jiminez is due back in court on Aug. 8.

Information in this report was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Concord Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.