BOSTON

Robbery Eyed as Motive for Murder of 2 Boston Doctors

A man accused of killing two engaged doctors inside their penthouse in a luxury Boston condominium building was ordered to be held without bail on Monday.

Bampumim Teixeira, 30, of Chelsea, was arraigned on two counts of murder from his hospital bed. A law enforcement source said the motive is believed to be robbery.

Police found the bodies of Dr. Lina Bolanos and Dr. Richard Field on Friday night at the Macallen Building in South Boston after responding to a report of a man with a gun. A law enforcement source said they were found with their throats slit and their hands tied behind their backs.

Teixeira has a criminal history of robbing banks, and was released from prison in April after serving nine months. Prosecutors said Monday that a black backpack filled with jewelry they believe belonged to Bolanos was found "in a remarkably conspicuous area" at the crime scene.

NBC Boston has learned that Teixeira — known as J.J. by friends — used to work as a security guard for Palladion Security Services at the Court Square Press Condominiums in South Boston. The building is right next to the Macallen Building where the murders happened and the two buildings share a parking garage, fitness center, deck, pool and other amenities.

"This is very early on in the investigation and we are looking into that possibility about any kind of employment he may have had," Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said.

Steven Sack, Teixeira's lawyer, entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf Monday. Teixeira moved only slightly and kept his eyes closed for most of the hearing. Sack did not argue bail and said he has only been able to speak with his client briefly because of his poor physical condition.

"You can see his physical condition it’s not great,” said Sack at the arraignment. "I haven’t been able to talk to him as much as I’d like to."

A judge agreed to seal some documents in the case for 90 days.

Prosecutors said police received a call at 8:38 p.m. Friday from the front desk at the Macallen Building saying they had taken a call from a friend of Field and Bolanos who said they had just gotten a text message from Field saying there was a "serious situation" and "a gunman in the house." That same friend called 911 moments later.

"He described a text message that he received," said John Pappas, Chief Trial Counsel for the Suffolk County District Attorney. "Describing a gunman in the house... and a plea for help."

When police arrived, prosecutors said they found a set of keys on the floor in front of Fields and Bolanos' door. They used the keys to gain entry and found the lights off in the apartment. While executing a sweep of the apartment, they encountered Teixeira, dressed in dark clothing and gloves, and fired upon him.

Teixeira was hit multiple times in the left hand, abdomen and leg. He was taken to Tufts Medical Center with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. No officers were injured.

Police searched the apartment and found Field and Bolanos deceased, "having sustained obvious trauma," according to prosecutors. 

Conley said a preliminary investigation has determined that Teixeira did not have a gun in his hand and did not fire at police before he was shot. Initial reports had indicated that Teixeira had exchanged gunfire with officers.

"Remember, this is a very chaotic moment - dark, high tension," Conley said. "Based upon what we know now, the officers believed either he pointed a weapon at them or shots were fired."

He said a BB gun was later found in a bag believed to belong to Teixeira. At least one knife was also found on him.

Investigators said they still aren't sure how Teixeira got into the building.

"There is no evidence whatsoever at this stage to conclude this defendant had a personal relationship with either doctor," Conley said. "Nor is there currently any evidence to explain why he would attack them so viciously inside their own home."

A letter went out to resident of the building on Monday night saying that Teixeira "did serve our community as a concierge, before leaving the buildings on his own terms after a few short weeks."

Bolanos, 38, was a pediatric anesthesiologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, according to its website, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Field, 49, also an anesthesiologist, worked at North Shore Pain Management.

Dr. Sunil Eappen, chief medical officer and chief of anesthesia at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, said in a statement on the hospital's website that he first met Bolanos when she was a young researcher.

"We have worked together since 2011, except for a short break when she moved to Texas for a few months," Eappen said, "I watched her mature and blossom from a young medical school graduate to a fabulous experienced pediatric anesthesiologist."

Eappen said Bolanos performed her job with both great skill and compassion.

"Everyone at Mass. Eye and Ear really loved her," he said. "It is desperately hard for all of us to fathom that our friend who never failed to brighten our days is no longer with us."

On its website, North Shore Pain Management said Field was "instrumental in the creation of this practice.

"He was a valued member of the medical community and a tremendous advocate for his patients," the statement said. "His tragic and sudden passing leaves an inescapable void in all of us."

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said Teixeira has a pair of larceny convictions on his record. In June of last year, he passed a note demanding money at a Boston bank. He committed the same crime two years earlier.

According to court documents obtained by the Boston Herald, Teixeira told a bank teller at a Citizens Bank branch in Downtown Crossing in 2014 that he would "start shooting people" if she didn't give him $1,000. He robbed the same bank in 2016, saying "$5,000 or I'll shoot you and everybody here now." He didn't show a weapon either time.

Teixeira pleaded guilty to the bank robberies and was sentenced to 364 days. That time was reduced according to Conley and allowed him to escape the classification of an aggravated felon.

"At the time, he had no criminal record. It was a non-violent offense. He passed a note to a bank teller," Conley said.

Teixeira is scheduled to return to court on June 8.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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