Man charged in hammer attack that left brother dead, mother seriously wounded

PAXTON, Mass. — A Paxton man is accused of a vicious attack that left his 23-year-old brother dead and seriously wounded his mother.

Alexander Asia, 24, was held without bail following his arraignment in East Brookfield District Court on Monday, pending a dangerousness hearing on Dec. 10. He faces two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury.

Asia is accused of attacking his family with a hammer late Sunday night, according to court documents. No motive had been released as of Monday night.

Investigators were seen gathering evidence at the Monticello Drive home on Monday, one day after a brutal attack at that location. Police responded to the home after receiving a 911 call at 10:39 p.m. Sunday.

Neighbor M.J. Byrnes told Boston 25 News that the mother, 53-year-old Leticia Asia, ran out of the house during the attack and over to her house and rang the doorbell repeatedly to get help.

Her sister, Kathleen, answered the door.

"My sister brought her in immediately, tried to stabilize her, make her as comfortable as possible, call 911," Byrnes said.

Leticia Asia had severe injuries, according to the district attorney's office. She is in stable condition and recovering at a local hospital.

"The mother was in and out of consciousness. She was mumbling and could see the wound visibly on the back of her head," Byrnes said.

She said the mother was able to give information about the attack.

"That her son was trying to kill the family with a hammer. When that statement comes out, that just, I don’t know what you can say," Byrnes said.

One of the other sons told investigators that his brother, Alexander, beat them all with a hammer. Officers later found a third brother, Innocent Asia, "covered in blood and slumped against a wall, unresponsive and with severe head trauma." He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The whole family has obviously been shattered and will be shattered for months and years to come," Byrnes said.

Neighbors were stunned to learn about the violence, since they previously saw no signs of trouble from the family.

"Quiet, no noise, no ruckus, nothing," said Robert Fantella.

Byrnes called the family "just lovely, unremarkable, lovely neighbors, great, children very cordial, very social."

"So the contrast of last night's events is just, is just shocking,” Byrnes said.

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