Coach, Toll Taker Accused Of Dismembering, Cooking Body

BOSTON -- Two local men, including a high school football coach, have been charged in connection with the slaying of a construction worker who prosecutors said was also a drug dealer. Prosecutors alleged that the pair killed, dismembered and cooked the man's body in March.

Paul Moccia, 48, and Daniel Bradley, 47, were each charged with first-degree murder and ordered held without bail Monday in Wrentham District Court.

The victim, Angel Antonio Ramirez, was reported missing by his girlfriend in March after he did not return from picking up a friend at Logan Airport.

Prosecutor Robert Nelson said that Ramirez, a Guatemalan immigrant who lived in Framingham, was Moccia's cocaine supplier. When Moccia figured out he could not pay the $70,000 he owed Ramirez, he began to develop a plan to kill the man, prosecutors said.

"One of the defendants for sure and the victim did know each other. So it wasn't random. It's not a 'wrong place, wrong time' kind of issue," Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating said.
On March 20, Moccia shot Ramirez and Bradley took the body to a Walpole concrete company where he dismembered and cooked the man's remains, Nelson said. Five areas of blood were discovered at the concrete company, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said it is unlikely that Ramirez's body will ever be recovered.

Bradley, who has been an assistant football coach at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood since 2002, is part owner of the concrete company. He was arrested at his home on Friday. Prosecutors said a pair of boots with blood on them was found at Bradley's home.

Defense attorney John Gibbons said Bradley never met Ramirez, does not know Ramirez and wants to clear his name.

Xaverian Brothers released a statement Monday that read, in part, "We are taking steps immediately to provide information and counseling to any students, parents, alumni, trustees, staff and faculty concerned about the very serious nature of the charges."

Moccia has been a Massachusetts Turnpike toll taker for 13 years.

Moccia and Bradley will return to court on July 7.