A Massachusetts man allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death at home before burying her in a 5-foot grave and calling police to report her missing, claiming she stormed out after an argument.
Gregory Groom, 22, is accused of murder, assault and battery on a pregnant woman, and witness intimidation in the death of 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro in Rehoboth, about 50 miles southwest of Boston. Groom was charged with murder on Wednesday morning, after investigators discovered Monteiro’s body Tuesday night.
According to prosecutors, Groom called Rehoboth cops on August 8 and informed them that Monteiro had been at his home two days prior looking for a place to stay. He claimed they had a verbal altercation and she left his house, and she hasn’t been heard from since, District Attorney Jason Mohan told the judge. According to a local pool feed provided by Boston NBC affiliate WBZ, Groom told investigators that his girlfriend was typically active on social media but had not posted since the last time he saw her.
Detectives then spoke with Monteiro’s sister, who received a text message from Monteiro on August 6 claiming that “he threw me on the ground, pulled my hair, and strangled me.” My phone is at 4% battery life, and if I die, Greg will be the cause.” Family members said they attempted to contact her but were unsuccessful.
During the hearing, prosecutors stated that Monteiro was 11 weeks pregnant when she died.
On August 14, cops searched Groom’s 25-acre property with cadaver dogs and an emergency response team, but found nothing noteworthy.
Groom spoke with investigators again on Tuesday. During the interview, he allegedly admitted to having an altercation with his girlfriend. During the argument, he claimed he knocked her cellphone from her grasp. Detectives informed Groom that they would again search his property and “dig if necessary.”
“Mr. Groom then paused,” Mohan explained. “He was given an opportunity to tell the police where Ms. Monteiro’s body was located either by being taken to his property and pointing it out or drawing a map or telling officers where her body was located, as they believed Ms. Monteiro was dead.”
The defendant then drew a “rudimentary” map depicting a shed on the property. He allegedly told police he stabbed Monteiro twice in the neck and once in the chest on August 6. According to Mohan, the kitchen knife broke when he stabbed her in the chest. She died, and Groom spent the night and early morning of the following day digging a grave. Mohan stated that once he reached five feet of depth, he pushed her body into the hole and buried her there.
Crime scene investigators went to the shed and discovered a large pile of brush. They discovered a pool of blood beneath the brush, where Groom is thought to have murdered his girlfriend. About 20 yards away, cops discovered “feet upon feet” of cut down trees. They pushed the trees to the side, where they discovered freshly moved dirt, according to Mohan.
Monteiro’s body was found inside the hole.
Monteiro’s family started a GoFundMe page to help with the search for her.
Now the fundraiser is for her funeral.
“Thank you for all your help in spreading awareness and for all the support our family has received so far,” the couple wrote in a letter. “This is it, and we are grateful for everyone’s assistance in getting here. Obviously, there will be court proceedings, but we are taking things one step at a time.
Groom is next scheduled to appear in court on September 10. He is being held in jail with no bond.
