What happened to Jacob Pothier?
Bristol County DA's office has gone silent on the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Pothier
New Bedford high school student Jacob Pothier was killed in a car accident last January and the death has been the subject of an open investigation by the Bristol County District Attorney’s office ever since. The family of Pothier has stated that Pothier was in a relationship with 44-year-old Kathleen Martins, a former security guard at the high school Jacob attended and that the school was aware of the relationship. The family is suing the district, alleging that they failed to protect Jacob and alert the proper authorities of the relationship.
Martins and Pothier were in a single car accident in a car belonging to Martins when it crashed, injuring Martins and killing Pothier.
But for months, the District Attorney’s office has refused to respond to requests for updates on the case, leaving the family of Pothier wanting answers.
Jennifer Letendre, the personal representative for the Pothier estate gave me an exclusive update on the case:
“As the personal representative for my nephew, Jacob Pothier’s estate, my family and I remain in the dark as to who is handling Jacob’s case. We hoped the October Superior Court ruling to have Martins deposed would have given momentum back to the crash investigation. Since that time, we continue to have no idea what ADA (assistant district attorney) is assigned this case or who from the Massachusetts State Police is assigned to investigate and/or communicate with Jacob’s family.
He died in a single car crash with no inclement weather. I can only reiterate, not a day goes by where Jacob is not missed by his parents, siblings and extended family. The last few months were extremely difficult given the first holiday season celebrated without him, plus his birthday. This was only exacerbated by the lack of any information regarding this crash and the first anniversary passing without even a whisper from the Massachusetts State Police or Bristol County DA’s office.
Jacob meant the world to us and I will continue to advocate for the truth to come to light.”
Updates on the case were few and far between but last fall, I ran into Greg Miliote, who at the time was the Director of Communications for the Bristol County DA’s office and he shared with me that the investigation was indeed ongoing. He told me that DNA from the scene had been sent to the state lab but there was an error with the processing of it and that it had to be resubmitted.
I reached back out to the DA’s office for an update in December and learned that Miliote was no longer working for them. Since then, Jennifer Sowa has been designated as the point person for press and I have called the office for Sowa seven different times. I have left numerous messages for Sowa, who has not returned any of my calls. I called the office yet again today and was sent to voicemail. My call has not been returned.
In regards to the Massachusetts State Police, the officer first assigned to the investigation into the death of Pothier was reassigned in the months after the accident. Since then, I have called their offices asking to speak with anyone involved in the investigation. Staff have taken my name and number and never returned my call. I attempted to speak with someone in their office yet again today.
I called the Massachusetts State Police office in Dartmouth, which coincidentally, is in the same town as where Pothier died. I was connected to an officer and I asked to then be connected to the person handling the Jacob Pothier case. He said he would connect me and put me on hold.
He came back to the call a few minutes later and asked me for my name and number, incase we got disconnected. I gave him the information and he placed me on hold again. Moments later, he returned to our call and told me he had an email address for me:
brimedia@mass.gov
I asked him if this was the email for the person handling the case and he said this was all he had for me. It obviously seemed like a contact for press to use, so I asked if this was the person someone should use if they had a tip in the Pothier case.
“Do you have a tip?” he asked.
I said I had some information on the case and would like to speak with someone. He maintained that I should use the email.
I have sent an email asking to speak with someone regarding the case but it has not been returned.
Last fall, I received a tip that the Pothier estate sued Martins car insurance company for his death as a result of the accident. In that lawsuit, which was settled out of court, Martins was listed as the driver of the vehicle. This contradicts previous conversations I had with Miliote, who told me Pothier was driving the car. I was also told, although I can not independently confirm, that the DNA that was being tested at the state lab was that from the drivers side airbag.
In the meantime, Martins was ordered to be deposed in the pending lawsuit between the estate and Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School where Pothier attended. No word on when that deposition will take place.
Martins herself has recovered from the accident and is working in Bristol County.
I have written multiple articles about this case while with Fall River Reporter, including being the first to break that Martins had been an employee of the high school Pothier attened. I have linked all of my previous work below.
Investigation into death of New Bedford student Jacob Pothier still open and active
Family of Jacob Pothier say his phone is missing after accident that killed him in January
Seven Months Later: Why is the Jacob Pothier investigation taking so long?
Estate of New Bedford’s Jacob Pothier asking court to order deposition of Kathleen Martins
Once again, Jess is covering important stories that the media otherwise ignores.
this is a heartbreaking case. Glad you are on it!