South Hadley man indicted in father’s slaying

NORTHAMPTON — A Hampshire County grand jury has indicted a South Hadley man in connection with the slaying of his father, David Weise Sr., 70, in September, according to the Northwestern district attorney’s office.

Craig R. Weise, 35, is expected to be arraigned April 3 in Hampshire Superior Court on charges of murder and attempted arson of a dwelling house. Investigators allege that he killed his father in their shared home at 37 Lawn St. on Sept. 9, and then attempted to set the house on fire.

South Hadley police officers were called to the home at approximately 4 p.m. that day after a home health care agency requested a well-being check. When police arrived, the prosecutor’s office said, they found the body of David Weise Sr. as well as evidence of recent burning within the home.

The medical examiner’s office later ruled the death a homicide, with the cause of death numerous blunt force injuries and ligature strangulation.

Craig Weise has been detained since Sept. 10 when he was arrested after allegedly striking Holyoke Police officers who were attempting to speak with him about his father’s death. On Dec. 7, he was charged in Eastern Hampshire District Court with the murder of David Weise Sr. pending indictment by a grand jury. Weise is represented by defense attorney Daniel Solomon.

Northwestern Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl is prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated jointly by the State Police detective unit assigned to the district attorney’s office and the South Hadley Police Department, with assistance from State Police fire and crime scene services.

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