Medford Man Charged with Local Assaults Has Died

Story Updated

– Allison Goldsberry

A 21-year-old Medford man charged with assaults in Arlington and Boston has died, according to the Middlesex Sheriff’s office.

Patrick Barry, who was being held on $1 million cash bail since his arraignment in connection with an assault on a 14-year-old Arlington student, died today, according to a statement from the Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian’s office.

On February 14 Barry was transported from Cambridge District Court to the Middlesex House of Correction, “where he underwent a routine medical screening customary with all new commitments,” said the Sheriff’s statement.

Medical personnel determined Barry needed emergency care and he was transported to Lowell General Hospital. He was later transferred to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he passed away. His cause of death was not immediately released, but a source told YourArlington.com that it might have been suicide.

A source said Barry died after taking an overdose of Tylenol before his arrest. He allegedly told nurses during a psychiatric evaluation what he had done.

Asked to comment, Stephanie Guyotte, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attoney’s office, wrote Monday, Feb. 24, that D.A’s Office is investigating and that the cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The results will likely be pending a toxicology report, which can take several months, she wrote.

“This is an unfortunate situation, and Mr. Barry’s death is under investigation by Arlington Police, the Middlesex Sheriff, and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Office,” said Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan. “Mr. Barry made no statements about his health to Arlington Police at any time prior to his arraignment.”

Barry had been accused of indecent assault in the Arlington incident last week and was charged with sexual assault of a woman in Boston last June. He had been due back in court in March.

– Information from YourArlington.com was used in this report