On a tragic Saturday morning, November 18, 2023, the life of a 77-year-old Caucasian woman, Barbara J. Cruz, was brought to a violent and sudden end in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. A dedicated nurse, grandmother, and a cherished friend to her children, she was at her older sister's home on Summer Street, providing care and companionship. The series of events that unfolded that morning were set in motion by a chilling phone call.
A relative, who was speaking with Barbara, heard shouting in the background before the line abruptly disconnected. Repeated attempts to call back were met with silence, sparking immediate concern and a call to the Rehoboth Police for a well-being check.
Upon their arrival at the residence at approximately 10:55 a.m., officers made a grim discovery. Inside the home, they found Barbara J. Cruz and a man, later identified as 72-year-old Omar Bradley, both deceased from gunshot wounds. Miraculously, Barbara's 84-year-old sister, who also lived in the house, was found physically unharmed. The initial investigation by law enforcement painted a grim picture of the events that had transpired.
The investigation, led by the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, quickly pointed towards a murder-suicide. It was determined that Omar Bradley, who had been residing in the Summer Street home with Barbara's sister, was the perpetrator. According to a statement from Barbara's daughter, her mother was helping to care for her older sister when her sister's boyfriend, Bradley, became enraged and shot and killed Barbara. Following this senseless act of violence, Bradley then turned the gun on himself. In the wake of this profound loss, Barbara's family remembered her as a beautiful, dedicated, and kind mother. The investigation into the tragic deaths of Barbara Cruz and Omar Bradley was coordinated by the Homicide Unit of the District Attorney's office.
