Braintree wants to clean up motel, scene of murder-suicide

By Dennis Tatz
The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE — The owners of Motel 6 have agreed to meet with the mayor to discuss continuing problems at the motel in the aftermath of a murder-suicide involving a former Braintree mother of four and her boyfriend.

BILL CONSIDERS REVOKING MOTELS' LICENSES
State Rep. Joseph Driscoll has long been aware of problems at the Motel 6 in his district.

So in January, the Braintree Democrat filed legislation that would allow a community to revoke the license of a motel if police were called to the business three or more times within a calendar year for a crime.

On Thursday, Driscoll called the Motel 6 on Union Street “a disgrace” and said it should be closed immediately.

The lawmaker’s comments came following a murder-suicide at the motel Wednesday.

“For too long it (Motel 6) has been a gateway for drug dealing, violent crimes of all orders and has no place in Braintree,” Driscoll said.

“I will fight for passage of this legislation to empower our town, and others in a like position to close establishments run by corporations who don’t know or don’t care that their business is not primarily renting rooms but allowing crime into surrounding neighborhoods.”

The proposed legislation is similar to the law that allows a landlord to evict a tenant involved in a felony.

The bill has been referred to the Public Safety Committee.

“We recognize this has been a troubled site for a period of time,” Mayor Joseph Sullivan said. “We want to clean it up.”

A motel worker found the bodies of Linda A. Auger, 42, and Luis Garcia, 52, formerly of Lynn, after entering a room they shared at the Union Street motel about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Following autopsies Thursday, Norfolk County District Attorney’s office spokesman David Traub, said preliminary results revealed that Garcia stabbed Auger to death and then hanged himself.

In the past, police have made numerous prostitution and drug-related arrests at the motel located just off Route 3 and near the MBTA Red Line and commuter rail station.

In an e-mail Thursday to the mayor and police Chief Paul Frazier, the head of safety and security for Accor North America in Carrollton, Texas, owners of the Motel 6 chain, said they were willing to discuss concerns regarding illegal activity at the business..

“We pride ourselves on being good corporate citizens in the communities that we serve,” Victor Glover, also a senior vice-president for Accor, wrote.

He said motel management has often hired off-duty Braintree police officers to handle security.

Glover wrote in a separate e-mail to The Patriot Ledger that the company’s condolences go out to the families of the deceased.

“The safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority,” he said. “We will continue to work in collaboration with the police department to provide a safe environment.”

The popular motel chain, which offers low-cost lodging, has more than 900 company-owned and franchised locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Its tagline, “We’ll leave the light on for you,” has been an advertising staple for years.

Sullivan said he was pleased with the company’s response.

“We have a serious matter on our hands,” the mayor said. “We want tourists enjoying our community. We won’t tolerate this type of activity.”

Frazier said quality-of-life issues with the motel’s owners must be addressed.

“But our thoughts are first and foremost with the children of this murder victim, who are with their father,” the chief said. “They have suffered a tremendous loss from this act of domestic violence.”

Chris Mitchell, who recently opened the Capri Restaurant and Wine Bar next to the motel at the former Bickford’s Restaurant site, declined comment. Mitchell leases the property from Accor.

A few local residents interviewed had varied reactions to the tragedy.

“It was very surprising,” Pat Clark said as she left the Braintree Cooperative Bank in Braintree Square with a friend. “I would like to see them clean that place up. These things don’t happen around here.”

Clark, who has lived in Braintree for nearly 50 years, said she believed there are others who are also upset about illegal activity that has been going on at the motel for years.

Janet Swenson, who was watching her grandson at the Hollis School playground, said it was obvious that changes need to be made to combat ongoing problems at the motel.

Susan Lynch, who was out for a walk near South Braintree Square, said she really wasn’t that surprised to hear about the murder-suicide.

“It seems like a sleazy place,” Lynch said. “It doesn’t have a good reputation anyway.”

Dennis Tatz may be reached at dtatz@ledger.com.