Man charged with murder of Lynn woman

LYNN – An Everett man has been arrested in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend Norma Dorce Gilles, 41, of Lynn.Lesly Cheremond, 48, of 30 Stuart St., Everett, was arrested outside of his apartment around 5 p.m. Friday and was charged with murder.Cheremond will be arraigned on Monday morning in Malden District Court.Gilles’ body was found stuffed in the trunk of her car roughly two weeks after she disappeared and was reported missing from the Scruple hair salon that she owned on Feb. 13 in Malden.According to an autopsy completed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) on Friday, Gilles’ death was ruled a homicide caused by asphyxia due to smothering and compression of the neck.District Attorney Gerry Leone said he believes the murder is another instance in which an ex-boyfriend resorted to deadly violence against his former girlfriend.”We can not forget that there is a victim behind each and every one of these all too familiar tragedies, and we will continue to pursue this case on behalf of Norma Dorce Gilles and her family,” he said.According to authorities, Gilles was last seen on Feb. 13 at the hair salon at 374 Salem St., in Malden.While she was working on a customer, she reportedly said she was getting some coffee and that she would be right back.She never returned as the customer waited in the chair.A missing persons report for Gilles was filed on Feb. 23 with Lynn Police, and on Feb. 27, Malden Police discovered Gilles’ car on Faulkner Street in Malden.After notifying State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, a joint investigation commenced.Cheremond reportedly owns a convenience store located next to the hair salon that Gilles owned.Gilles had a prior restraining order against Cheremond resulting from a pending case in which he is charged with the alleged assault of Gilles in February 2007.Cheremond is charged with aggravated assault and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in that case that is scheduled for trial on April 29.Malden Police, Everett Police, and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office assisted in Cheremond’s arrest on Friday.Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Keeley is prosecuting the case.