Chicopee firefighter in court for deadly stabbing of girlfriend

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Chicopee firefighter accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death in Holyoke is due back in court on Monday.

Jason Chapdelaine , 52, from Springfield, was taken into custody and has been charged with the murder of 48-year-old Eileen Monaghan of Chicopee. He pled not guilty to the murder back in April. He was found next to her last month. Police say they were both unconscious from stab wounds, and he appeared to be self-inflicted.

Chapdelaine is a firefighter in the city and is now on unpaid leave following his arrest. He was hired on May 30, 1997, discharged on June 28, 2001, and re-instated through the Civil Service process on February 9, 2004, according to Chicopee Mayor John Vieau’s office.

Eileen Monaghan was an executive assistant to Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi and formerly the Chief of Staff for former State Representative Joseph Wagner. The sheriff’s office said Eileen was a victim of domestic violence.

The pre-trial hearing starts at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

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