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Taunton Electrocution Victim Identified

Bristol County District Attorney’s OfficeThomas M. Quinn IIIDistrict Attorney


Press ReleaseJune 17, 2022


The man who was electrocuted to death last Thursday while trying to remove an antenna from a Danforth Street home in Taunton can now be publicly identified as Michael Messina, 58, of North Easton.

The preliminary investigation into a Taunton fatality last Thursday morning suggests that an accidental electrical event claimed a man’s life and ignited a fire at an apartment building, said Taunton Fire Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw, Taunton Police Chief Edward J. Walsh, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.

Investigators believe that the victim, was removing an antenna from the three-story Danforth Street building at about 7:30 this morning. The antenna made contact with a nearby power line, causing fatal injuries to the man and igniting the exterior of the dwelling. Taunton firefighters responded a short time later and quickly extinguished the fire with no other injuries reported.

The incident remains under investigation by the Taunton Fire Department, Taunton Police Department, and State Police assigned to the offices of the State Fire Marshal and Bristol District Attorney. Foul play is not suspected.



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