Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Gordon Cordeiro walked out of the Maui Community Correctional Center to cheers and lei Friday afternoon Cordeiro was just 20 when he was convicted of the 1994 murder of Timothy Blaisdell in Kula “All these people here believed in me,” he said about the large crowd of family and his legal team with the Hawaii Innocence Project Cordeiro was wearing a belly chain in a prison jumpsuit in court He started crying as Circuit Court judge Kirstin Hamman ruled that new DNA evidence shows Cordeiro would probably have changed the results of the trial Cordeiro said the first thing he wanted to do was visit his mother’s gravesite choked back tears after the judge’s ruling happiness that my son can finally do some family celebrations before I leave this world,” he said Cordeiro’s DNA did not match any of the DNA recovered from the crime scene turned the attention to Cordeiro in an effort to save himself Freitas’ DNA and an unknown male’s DNA matched the evidence said he and the team have been fighting for Cordeiro since 2010 you know something deep down was not right,” Lawson said the Maui prosecutor’s office could refile charges “Certainly DNA evidence can be a compelling basis in a cold case such as this from 30 years ago But I don’t believe they met the standard to have this conviction set aside,” said Maui deputy prosecutor Richard Rost said that would be a mistake for the prosecutor’s office “If they really sat down and took the time to look at evidence that came out they should not re-try this case,” she said said freedom is not easy for those who spent a lot of time in prison but Cordeiro has a lot of family support and that will help He was a young mechanic when he was convicted and “so much of the world has changed since then,” Brown said State law allows for $50,000 for every year served There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application MA and was the beloved son of Paul Cordeiro and Susan (Fernandes) Ribeiro Zachary was a learner at Haven on Bliss Ministries and also attended Big & Little Anchors Co-op program Susan Ribeiro; sister Alivia Cordeiro; aunts Sandra Fernandes (Susan’s twin sister) Elizabeth Fernandes and her significant other Kevin; uncle John Cordeiro and his wife Elizabeth; paternal grandparents Margarida deOliveira Cordeiro and the late Manuel Cordeiro; maternal grandparents Antonio and Ligia Fernandes; as well as his cousins Zachary Aidan Cordeiro was born on 8/7/2014 He was born diagnosed with hypo plastic left heart syndrome A condition where the entire left side of his heart was critically underdeveloped His prognosis for survival after birth left little hope The options given to their parents prior to his birth were one-termination (as they were told by 3 different Dr.’s he would likely never sustain a high quality of life) or 3- an attempt to completely reconstruct his heart by a series of 3 planned open heart surgeries His parents were adamant to do whatever they could to sustain his life and decided on surgeries and trusted God to lead the way He faced many struggles and adversities these first few months back and forth to the hospital his parents rushed him into Boston Children’s Hospital while watching him gasp for air and turn blue and he remained hospitalized for another 3 months but somehow miraculously recovered from this event their family invested their whole lives in educating themselves about health and wellbeing and set off on a mission that felt lead by God to honor their temple and they lived a life dedicated to purification of not only their bodies Their willingness to lead by example was inspired by wanting to give Zachary the highest quality of life they could with what they learned and felt they were being steward by God along the way from the age of 3 and up until he was unexpectedly admitted on 11/14/2024 with sudden severe heart pain he lived a relatively normal healthy life without any restrictions…other than the scars on his chest no one could have guessed he was running around with half a heart and will to do everything with a passion of pure joy and bliss He loved life and carried this air of confidence and a presence of invincibility that was undeniably felt when he was around He loved to make people laugh by telling jokes he was a wise old soul who loved to talk and tell stories and could have such deep philosophical and insightful conversations Some of his favorite things to do were to jump on the trampoline The library was like a second family home and all the staff knew him by name Zachary was always asking questions and inquiring about something else he was interested in putting on hold for next time as he loved getting books He was a master at putting together over 2000 piece puzzles with such ease and then would slide them under our rug to store them He especially loved to make videos and shows together with his sister He also really loved food and loved being in the kitchen either baking with mom and creating his own recipes from scratch or cooking something up with dad His favorite food was chickpeas and apples He loved Christmas and loved counting down the days on his calendar to his birthday because he loved parties and everything that came with it The thing he loved the most and made him the happiest was his family He was happiest when his dad had a day off of work and he was together with his whole family and was even happier if this included both sets of grandparents His little half a heart was so full of life and love for the simple things that really mattered in life which was his health and being with his family charming and Zachary authentically and genuinely spoke his mind Once he was determined to want or do something he would find a way to persuade and get his way One of Zachary’s wishes was to have his entire family home for Christmas this year He had it in his heart to make this wish come true and conviction to things that held most near and dear He fought with everything he had the last few weeks of his life and the lessons we can all take is to lead our lives whole heartedly Keep the things that are most important to us inside our hearts and fight for the things that are most important to us with passion and conviction his wish to bring his family together for Christmas came true Zachary may have had only half a heart but what he taught us about life Even though we all feel such grief and sorrow for his physical loss here on this earth it is a direct reflection of the deep love bliss and lessons he has brought into our lives and we are forever grateful for the gift of his beautiful soul’s short visit in all of our lives Zachary's visiting hours will be held on Thursday His funeral services will take place on Friday 2024 beginning in Perry Funeral Home at 9:00 A.M and followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St Mary's Church South Dartmouth at 10:00 A.M Burial will immediately follow in Rural Cemetery Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Perry Funeral Home Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker FAYETTEVILLE -- A jury acquitted a former West Fork police officer of a negligent homicide charge Wednesday in connection with the death of a motorist during a traffic stop in late December 2022 Ron Wood has been a professional journalist in Arkansas for about 40 years He has covered state and federal courts in Northwest Arkansas since 1995 Over the course of his award-winning career he has covered a wide range of beats including city and county governments This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Cordeiro Charitable Foundation's Winter Gala33 PHOTOSGuests attend the Anthony F Cordeiro Charitable Foundation's sixth Annual Winter Gala held Saturday Gordon Cordeiro now adjusting to life with phones after judge overturned his conviction in 1994 Maui shooting One of the first places Gordon Cordeiro visited when a judge ordered him released after spending 30 years in prison for a killing he always maintained he had nothing to do with was his mother’s Hawaii gravesite In a videoconference interview on Saturday with the Associated Press Cordeiro reflected on his first day of freedom after new DNA evidence led to the overturning of his conviction in the 1994 shooting of Timothy Blaisdell on the island of Maui and her son was arrested the following month “Thanks for looking over me,” the son recalled saying at her grave hours after walking out of the Maui community correctional center A photo provided by his sister showed Cordeiro kneeling at their mother’s grave with a lei he was given upon release draped over the headstone Inscribed on it were the words: “You were the wind beneath our wings.” Cordeiro said he thought constantly about his mother – who died at age 49 from ALS often called Lou Gehrig’s disease – during his years behind bars He and his sisters had taken turns caring for her and he said he was with her and building shelving units for the family when Blaisdell was fatally shot during a drug deal robbery After a steak dinner and the gravesite visit he celebrated with family at his father’s house and then found himself unable to sleep much The following day he went to other relatives’ graves and planned to go to Costco But the Maui he once knew has changed a lot, Cordeiro said, noting that the historic town of Lahaina was destroyed by a wildfire in 2023 Another thing that has taken some getting used to: “Everybody is looking at their phones.” Cordeiro had just a pager before he went to prison There were gasps and cries in the courtroom on Friday when Judge Kirstin Hamman announced that his sentence was vacated and he was to be released from custody would probably change the outcome of another trial The Maui county prosecuting attorney Andrew Martin says he plans to appeal and seek to have bail imposed on Cordeiro’s release Cordeiro’s first trial ended in a hung jury robbery and attempted murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole After Cordeiro’s conviction, new testing on physical evidence from the scene excluded him as the source of DNA on Blaisdell’s body and other crime scene evidence, the Hawaii Innocence Project said, and a DNA profile of an unidentified person was found on the inside pockets of Blaisdell’s jeans. Free newsletterGet the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning “Thank God for new DNA,” Cordeiro said on Saturday. “Technology is awesome.” Read moreThe Zoom interview with the AP was the first time he used the platform and an iPad outside prison Someone who knows what Cordeiro is going through reached out to him on Friday to offer support in adjusting: Ian Schweitzer who was freed in 2023 after more than 20 years for a 1991 killing and rape on the Big Island that he says he did not commit “We followed each other’s cases as we were going along,” he said so we both kept up with each other as the process was going.” helping with his dad’s house and “maybe giving back to the community a little bit” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Montana to Chris & Cheryl (Hastings) Cordeiro and was raised in Ulm Staci graduated from Cascade High School in May 2001 They were inseparable and were married July 17 After graduating from MSU- Billings in 2008 with a degree in Business Administration.  Staci accepted a position with Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance where she learned the world of insurance and managed the office for 2 agents and several insurance adjusters; She worked there for 10 years.  Staci loved getting to know and helping those clients For the last 3 years she worked as a Lending Agent for the Great Fall Development Alliance  She found passion in helping to grow Great Falls businesses Staci’s husband James deployed with the US Army five times during their marriage during these times Staci held their family together  Never faltering and even supporting other spouses during those hard times. On March 7 Staci and James welcomed their first child they completed their family with the addition of Sophia Campbell on July 1 2014; Staci’s kids were the light of her life Staci’s happy place was at the family cabin on Holter Lake The kids loved waking up and seeing Staci on the deck enjoying the quiet with her coffee Evenings were spent around the campfire with the kids with the best of times happening when all three elements would combine – Wine Club Staci was diagnosed with cancer in October 2022 and fought with all she had She was preceded in death by her mother-in-law Staci is survived by her husband of 20 years James Campbell; her children Gage Campbell & Sophia Campbell; parents Cheryl Cordeiro Chris & Stephani Cordeiro; father-in-law Edward Campbell; brothers Scott (Andrea) Cordeiro & Steven Cordeiro; brother in-law Jason Campbell; nephew Cameron; nieces Kendra She will be missed the most by her family & friends.  replacing a former used car lot and an auto body shop with a five-story building on Bedford Street containing apartments and an adult day center The Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday granted two variances and three special permits to 295 Bedford Street LLC the project would occupy nearly half a block between Seventh and Eighth streets on Bedford Street Replacing the two car-related businesses would be a 62-foot-high mixed-use building; inside 52 market-rate apartments and commercial space Real estate report: 2024 saw a housing development boom in Fall River. Will it continue in 2025? Facing Bedford Street and along Eighth Street is a parking lot that until the mid-2000s was the home of used car dealer Paul Cantin throughout the 1980s known as Cantin’s Clunkers Cordeiro has used the site as parking since is auto body shop Jeronimo’s Collision Center At the northeast corner of the block is 277 Bedford St. a small building home to three law offices; that building is a separate property not owned by Cordeiro The south half of the block is a private parking lot owned by PrimaCare More housing: Former Fall River women's garment worker union health clinic to be redeveloped as apartments The project would add a new building to Fall River’s skyline in a spot that for decades has seen largely asphalt told the ZBA the five-story building would contain an 8,000-square-foot adult day center on the first floor Floors 2 to 5 would contain four three-bedroom apartments The project also features 74 parking spaces — one only for each apartment unit 10 for the commercial space and another dozen for “overflow.” Per zoning rules the project should have required 114 spaces The ZBA granted variances to allow the construction of apartments on the block and narrower setbacks on Seventh and Eighth streets The board also granted special permits to reduce the parking requirements as well as setbacks and landscaping reductions executive vice president of the Bristol County Economic Development Consultants saying it represented a more than $20 million investment in the area “Such an investment will have a positive quantitative impact on Bedford Street and for .. the abutting neighborhood areas," Fiola wrote Fiola wrote that the demand for market-rate housing remains high in Fall River thanks to three types of renters: empty-nesters downsizing and Fall Riverites upgrading to higher-quality apartments with better amenities than can be found in triple-deckers will help the community build and diversify its housing stock for economic development and enhance neighborhood stability,” he wrote “I think that this is a great proposal for the city," Saulino said “It’s consistent with my client’s other proposals in and around that area and I think it would bring much-needed housing to that area.”  What else does Anthony Cordeiro own downtown The building would be within walking distance of a cluster of properties downtown also owned by Cordeiro Cordeiro also owns property at 60 Hartwell St., where in 2024 he announced plans to build two high-rises with 102 market-rate apartments Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Gordon Cordeiro was convicted for the 1994 killing of a Maui man during a drug deal robbery This story was written by Associated Press writer Jennifer Sinco Kelleher HONOLULU (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered the release of a Hawaii man who was imprisoned for 30 years for a murder he has long said he didn’t commit would likely change the results of another trial against Gordon Cordeiro Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled Friday in vacating his convictions and life sentence There were gasps and cries in the courtroom when Hamman said “And the judgment and sentence is vacated and the defendant is ordered to be released from custody,” before a Zoom feed broadcasting the hearing suddenly turned off a man was murdered on Maui during a drug deal robbery Cordeiro would eventually be found guilty of murder The Hawaii Innocence Project took up his case and during a hearing earlier this week argued Cordeiro must be released on the grounds of new evidence proving his innocence ineffectiveness of his previous attorney and prosecutorial misconduct Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment after the judge ordered Cordeiro’s release co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project to be processed and released from custody after the hearing “He believed that he was going to be exonerated … but having gone through two trials you lose faith in the justice system To finally hear a judge say ‘I’m vacating your convictions,’ that’s when it hit him.” According to court documents filed by Cordeiro’s attorneys he was wrongfully convicted for the shooting death of Timothy Blaisdell partly because police relied upon four jailhouse informants They say those informants were motivated by promises of reduced sentences and concocted a fabricated murder-for-hire plot claimed Cordeiro tried to arrange the killing of the man who tried to pin the death on Cordeiro due to a previous dispute the State’s use of incentivized jailhouse informants and their fabricated evidence and testimony about the murder-for-hire plots was enough to convince a jury of his guilt in his second trial,” the Hawaii Innocence Project said in a court filing The first trial against Cordeiro ended in a hung jury Cordeiro had several alibi for the day Blaisdell was killed his attorneys said: The then 22-year-old was at home with his parents and sisters spending the day building a shelving unit in his family’s open-air garage and installing a stereo in his sister’s car He was nowhere near the area known as “Skid Row” in upcountry Maui where Blaisdell was killed Blaisdell had gone to Skid Row with a man named Michael Freitas where Blaisdell planned to buy a pound of marijuana with $800 in cash Blaisdell’s body was found at the bottom of a ravine there a friend he falsely believed had “snitched” on him in an unrelated drug case new testing on physical evidence from the scene excluded Cordeiro as the source of DNA on Blaisdell’s body and other crime scene evidence and found there was a DNA profile of an unidentified person on the inside pockets of Blaisdell’s jeans Cordeiro’s attorneys believe Freitas set up Blaisdell to get robbed and was involved in his killing The judge agreed that the new DNA evidence and new information about gunshot residue would change the results of a later trial “The police botched this case from the beginning and turned the No 1 suspect into the state’s star witness resulting in a 30-plus-year nightmare and miscarriage of justice for Gordon and his family,” Lawson said Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Cordeiro Charitable Foundation has awarded $15,500 in grants to five local nonprofits which has distributed more than $250,000 since its inception in 2018 aims to support underfunded programs and services that enhance opportunities for improved health education and food security in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island our grantees continue to inspire us with their dedication to meeting critical community needs,” said Anthony F “Whether it’s helping a child find their voice through art or empowering children with disabilities to achieve independence these organizations are creating meaningful We are honored to raise funds and awareness to support their efforts.” The grants are funded by individual donations and proceeds from the foundation’s annual golf tournament and winter gala The recipients of the second round of 2024 grants include Saint Vincent Services in Fall River Saint Vincent Services will use the funding to purchase supplies for its art therapy program helps clients gain insight into their emotions reduce anxiety and strengthen their sense of self The United Way of Greater New Bedford will use the grant to purchase backpacks and snacks for its Hunger Heroes program which addresses food insecurity among students in need the organization delivers 1,000 backpacks filled with kid-friendly snacks to school districts in time for April vacation will use the funding to support children ages 10-18 with Hippotherapy a therapeutic program that uses horseback riding to improve balance Meeting Street will use the grant to purchase three child gait trainers which are wheeled supportive devices that enable children who cannot walk to gain independence through mobility My Brother’s Keeper will use the funding to support its food assistance program which delivers groceries to more than 350 households experiencing food insecurity “I want to congratulate all of our grantees in the second funding round,” said Melanie Cordeiro “We’re grateful for the opportunity to align with these incredible organizations whose missions make a significant impact on the populations they serve; whether it’s providing a balanced meal healthy snacks or working to address the physical and emotional needs of vulnerable populations in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.” Applications are currently open for the foundation’s first round of funding for 2025 Nonprofit organizations in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island whose programs support the foundation’s mission are invited to apply Full guidelines and application materials can be downloaded here Applications are due on or before June 30, 2025. Questions about grant applications or the annual golf tournament can be directed to Melanie Cordeiro at melcordeiro@cordeirocharitablefoundation.org FAYETTEVILLE -- A former West Fork police officer who was acquitted last year of negligent homicide was decertified as a law enforcement officer Tuesday in Little Rock Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Three days after Gordon Cordeiro walked out of prison for the first time in 31 years the Maui County prosecuting attorney’s office filed a motion seeking a bail hearing Cordeiro was released on his own recognizance after the judge dismissed his murder conviction on Friday and the motion indicates prosecutors are looking at a possible retrial “The fact that (Cordeiro’s) conviction has been vacated does not indicate he is not a flight risk,” the document said (Cordeiro) is back to where he was before his conviction: charged with both murder in the second degree and attempted murder in the first degree.” authored by deputy prosecutor Richard Rost asked that Cordeiro put up bail or another way to assure the office that he will appear in future court hearings “Purely vindictive. They’re being vindictive,” said Ken Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, which worked on Cordeiro’s case for more than 15 years HIP also spent $100,000 on tests that show Cordeiro’s DNA does not match the evidence collected from the 1994 scene where Timothy Blaisdell was murdered New technology identified sweat from an unknown person’s hands in Blaisdell’s pockets after he was shot in a robbery for $800 in cash the Maui prosecutor’s office insisted that Cordeiro hands were in the victim’s pockets The jury believed it and convicted Cordeiro “Now the DNA evidence shows that our client’s hands were nowhere near his pockets,” Lawson said Lawson said HIP is working to identify the person behind the sweat using genetic genealogy testing Lawson also pointed out that the witnesses at trial have since recanted and testimony about gun shot residue was inaccurate Rost said after Cordeiro’s release that they disagreed with Circuit Court Judge Kirstin Hamman who said the jury would have come to a different conclusion with the new evidence “I don’t believe that any evidence really establishes anything Cordeiro is innocent of the crime,” Rost said Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) - New DNA test results may free a Maui man who has been imprisoned for murder for more than 30 years The Hawaii Innocence Project says Gordon Cordeiro is serving time for a murder he did not commit Cordeiro’s attorneys made their case on Tuesday to prove his innocence “He missed his mother’s passing and her funeral He missed his grandparents passing and their funeral He missed out on a career as an auto mechanic He missed out on marrying and starting a family all while the real perpetrators got to live out their lives will Gordon served their time,” said Cordeiro’s volunteer attorney Gina Gormley Cordeiro was just 20 years old when he was arrested in 1994 for fatally shooting Timmy Blaisdell The only person who identified Cordeiro as the killer was also the initial suspect Cordeiro’s attorneys believe that Freitas pinned the crime on their client to get suspicion off himself Cordeiro’s first murder trial in 1995 ended in a hung jury He was convicted in a re-trial three years later and sentenced to life in prison without parole because he was also found guilty of attempting to hire someone to kill Freitas DNA technology has been used to evaluate evidence from the scene That includes the jeans that Blaisdell was wearing when he was killed was Gordon excluded from every single DNA profile that was produced?” Gormley asked forensic scientist Nancy Dinh “It’s possible to touch something and not leave behind DNA so this essentially proves nothing,” said Maui deputy prosecuting attorney Richard Rost “It doesn’t point to anyone else as a perpetrator There’s some unknown DNA there that was put there who knows when by who knows.” Cordeiro has always maintained that he was at his family’s home the day of the murder and nowhere near the crime scene He exhausted all his appeals over the years His family turned to the Hawaii Innocence Project for help “Hopefully justice delayed in this case may not be justice denied,” said Ken Lawson “There’s always hope and that’s what we try to give people when we represent them.” His family says Cordeiro was involved in his church growing up and loved his pets They say he is a model inmate in prison in Arizona who enjoys woodwork and leatherwork and visits the law library often to do research on the criminal justice system Judge Kirstin Hamman said she will review all the evidence that was presented on Tuesday and make a decision on whether to set Cordeiro free on Friday NEW BEDFORD – Former President of the Regional Government of Azores Vasco Cordeiro was in New Bedford from March 5 to 7 to launch the new law office where he will be providing legal advice regarding Portuguese laws Currently a serving member of the Azores’ Legislative Assembly representing the Socialist Party (PS) and the elected chair of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget Cordeiro told O Jornal he has decided to take up the legal profession again and is easing his way out of political life after being an elected official for more than two decades “I’m, in fact, leaving political life. I practiced law before entering politics and now I’ve taken it up again,” said Cordeiro, while sitting at his new office in suite 502 of the DeMello International Center A graduate of the University of Coimbra Law School Cordeiro practiced law in the Azores from 1995 to 2003 before pursuing his political aspirations full-time he became a partner in the law firm Borges da Ponte Since the firm has been growing and requests for legal advice from individuals living in the United States have significantly increased lately it was decided to expand the firm’s services to New England Fully aware that Southeastern Massachusetts is home to one of the largest Portuguese communities in the country the partners decided to open the new office in New Bedford that I would be the person to lead this project,” Cordeiro said who served as President of the Regional Government of the Azores from 2012 to 2020 is no stranger to this region and has made many contacts during his various visits to this area “This is a very exciting project,” he said “I consider myself fortunate to have some knowledge of the reality of our community here.” Cordeiro said the main goal of the new office will be to provide legal support and advice to the Portuguese community residing here regarding Portuguese laws citizens seeking to attain Portuguese nationality our presence here is also about providing a better service obviously reporting to our clients on the progress of the issues they have placed in our care but it’s quite another to be here in person and ask questions,” Cordeiro said There are people who would like to have this support here.” Cordeiro said he can advise and represent clients from all over the country “I will come here approximately every two months,” he said “There are issues that can be resolved right here such as clearing up legal doubts about ‘what do I have to do,’ ‘how do I have to do it,’ ‘do I have the right’ Any issues that cannot be resolved locally will be followed up by the firm in Portugal but always with the clients’ direct involvement thanks to today’s technologies “We are a team of six partners in this firm and have about 10 other lawyers working with us,” explained Cordeiro and we also have a partnership with a law firm in mainland Portugal we are able to have a significant presence.” The New Bedford office has also forged a partnership with Attorney Beyanid Montoya-Sheehan who provides immigration legal services to individuals families and businesses in New Bedford and surrounding areas Her office is also located on the fifth floor of the International DeMello Center “We hope that this partnership will be fruitful all the signs point in that direction,” Cordeiro said Linhares Dias & Associados was founded in the 1990s Cordeiro said the firm’s expertise spans across a wide spectrum of legal areas Advise those interested in obtaining Portuguese nationality or are looking to move to Portugal with residency visas Portuguese inheritance law can be very complex The law defines two types of succession: legal and voluntary Legal succession applies when there is no will and the Civil Code dictates how assets are distributed Voluntary succession allows individuals to determine how to divide their estate Family lawWhether someone is looking to get married in Portugal marriage or divorce recognized in Portugal or resolve a family dispute there are various situations that can require legal support selling or renting a house in Portugal is not always as easy as it seems and it’s important that people understand the adequate due diligence as well as tax implications Portugal has become a popular destination for digital nomads and foreign workers It’s important that people understand their rights and responsibilities Portuguese business and commercial laws are based on extensive codes supplemented by European Union regulations and directives How to make an appointment?If you need legal advice from Vasco Cordeiro or BPLD & Associates, call toll free 1-800-383-5014 or send an email to vac@bpldadvogados.com Cordeiro expects to return to New Bedford in the beginning of May For more information about the new office and upcoming available appointments, visit https://www.facebook.com/BPLDA/?locale=pt_BR Privacy Policy | About Our Ads “Thank you… You guys believed in me,” said Gordon Cordeiro as he hugged family friends and his defense team upon his release on Friday afternoon Cordeiro is a free man thanks to the Hawaiʻi Innocence Project and a ruling by 2nd Circuit District Court Judge Kirstin M vacating a murder conviction and granting him immediate release Tears flowed and applause filled the courtroom as the order was read before a gallery of family and friends wearing t-shirts printed with the message “Faith Walking into the arms of his sisters and his dad Cordeiro embraced his loved ones and thanked those who stood by him all these years “Iʻm feeling good,” said Gordon as he took in the moment “Feeling thankful… Thankful to all these people who believed in me.” Cordeiro had been serving a term of life in prison without parole for charges stemming from an apparent drug deal robbery gone bad and his body was left at the bottom of a ravine off Old Kula Road at a spot known at the time as “Skid Row.” The petition filed by the defense claimed that “the sole suspect,” Michael Freitas became the “state’s star witness,” when he implicated Cordeiro had an alibi that placed him at home for the entire day building a shelving unit in the family’s open-air garage and being the primary caretaker for his mother who suffered from ALS He left only briefly to purchase more lumber for his garage project a quick errand that was corroborated by a salesman at the lumberyard “After the first trial ended in a hung jury with 11 out of the 12 jurors [who] believed Cordeiro to be innocent the State chose to rely on four additional… witnesses who were all jailhouse informants,” the petition stated “We’ve always known that Gordon was innocent,” said Kenneth Lawson of the Hawaiʻi Innocence Project “This is a case where when you hear the facts… you know somewhere deep in your heart there’s been some fundamental unfairness going on.” the false [claims] that Gordon wrote all these notes and admissions—that’s not his handwriting,” Lawson explained The prosecution alleged that Gordon robbed the victim by sticking his hands in the victim’s pockets and pulling out $800 The defense presented evidence that Gordon’s DNA was not in the pockets “That’s the unknown,” according to the defense “There’s no physical evidence ever linking Gordon to that crime no nothing… And that’s 31 years of someone’s life,” said Lawson “I don’t think Freitas took him (Blaisdell) there to get killed but he took him there to get robbed.” Sources say Freitas passed away several years ago The judge determined that the new evidence surrounding DNA and lack of physical evidence linking Gordon to the scene had a probability of changing the result if it proceeded to another trial with many milestones passed and gatherings missed Gordon’s long-awaited homecoming has finally arrived He called it “Freedom Friday” as he answered questions from media about his thoughts getting back to a world and community that is much different that what he knew in his 20s Upon exiting the Maui Community Correctional Center where he was processed for release Gordon said his first stop would be to visit the resting place of his mother who died about a month before he was arrested happiness,” is how Gordon’s father he said his son’s absence was “the empty chair,” that will finally be filled “My son can finally do some family celebrations before I leave this world Dennis said was waving goodbye to his son during visits to the prison in Arizona “Know[ing] that you’re leaving and he’s not; and it might be another year before you make the trip to Arizona “It’s a big release from the weight on my shoulders for all these years,” he said of the order to vacate When asked about the prosecution’s options and the ability to refile a volunteer attorney with the Hawaiʻi Innocence Project said “I think if they really sat down and took the time to look at the case and all the new evidence that came out expert testimony and handwriting analysis that were presented by the defense as key factors in the outcome and included in a 120 page memorandum filed with the court in May 2024 “We always believed in our client’s innocence We believed that this was going to be the outcome… but to hear it and have it and see it it’s just unbelievable and I’m just so happy for Gordon and his family,” said Gormley “He was an aspiring mechanic,” Gormley said of Gordon Associate Director and Staff Attorney with the Hawaiʻi Innocence Project acknowledged that the world has changed a lot in terms of job skills training since the conviction technology has advanced so much… It’s going to be a challenge but I’m so happy that he’s home and supported by his family.” The Hawai’i Innocence Project is a law clinic and nonprofit that strives to not only exonerate the innocent but to also reform the justice system Whether it be courtside at games or in the comments of each other's social media posts That was the case again this week when A-Rod was scrolling through the 'Gram and came across one of Jaclyn's workout videos Jaclyn was showing off her leg day workout to her more than 138,000 followers on Instagram MORE: ESPN's Molly Qerim flaunts abs in early morning pre-First Take workout selfie while breaking out some hip thrusts and other exercises A post shared by Jaclyn Cordeiro (@jac_lynfit) It didn't take long for the former MLB slugger to come sliding into the comments and thirst over his girlfriend MORE: Gracie Hunt flexes full-body morning workout in ab-baring yoga fit "Wow," with a heart and flame emoji Jaclyn took notice of the comment and shared a loving response to his compliment Instagram No one will ever accuse A-Rod of being a man of many words MORE: Olympic champ Gabby Thomas sweats off 'least favorite type' of workout Rodriguez and Cordeiro were first linked in October 2022 They hard-launched their relationship on Instagram in December 2022 Jaclyn Cordeiro / Instagram Jaclyn Cordeiro / Instagram Cordeiro who is a Canadian fitness influencer who developed her own six-week program JACFIT Rodriguez also has two children from a previous relationship: Natasha — Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI — Get out!: Eagles CB Cooper DeJean ruins gf’s Steph Wilfawn’s perfect glam prep NBA All-Star winner: Cameron Brink slays blue miniskirt, matching crop top courtside Still starring: Livvy Dunne flexes sparkly LSU leotard stunners despite benching In the spotlight: Bronny James’ Parker Whitfield shares rare selfie on date night Legacy always: Vanessa Bryant unveils shimmering triple-black Kobe kicks that rock JOSH SANCHEZManaging Editor: Cowboys on SI - Contributor: The Athlete Lifestyle on SI, and Sporting News MMA - Contact: joshsanchez@gmail.com The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Maui man freed by new DNA technology after 30 years in prison was called back to court Friday morning Gordon Cordeiro was released on his own recognizance last week after a Circuit Court judge found that the new evidence would have changed the outcome of his murder trial in the 1990s The Maui prosecutor’s office asked that Cordeiro be forced to put up bail; a move his legal team called vindictive. But Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled Friday that no bail was needed. “It’s not even clear to the court whether the state intends to retry the case, but regardless, that’s up to the state,” Hamman said. “I don’t see that after 30 years of being away from his community and his family, I don’t see the defendant as a flight risk.” Cordeiro was 20 years old when he was arrested in 1994, accused of fatally shooting Timmy Blaisdell, 20, in Kula in an area known as “Skid Row.” The Hawaii Innocence Project spent $100,000 on tests that show Cordeiro’s DNA does not match the evidence collected from the scene where Blaisdell was murdered. Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. An investigation is underway in death of Fall River man believed to be homelessThe Herald NewsFALL RIVER — A man who was found dead on Tuesday, Feb. 18 near 89 Globe Mills Ave. and Kuss Middle School has been identified as 59-year-old Jaime Cordeiro, who was believed to be homeless. Fall River Police Department responded to a call at 11 a.m. and found Cordeiro just outside of an abandoned mill. Initial reports indicate that Cordeiro was discovered by a delivery driver who made a stop at 89 Globe Mills Ave.  According to a release from Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, no “obvious signs of trauma” were apparent, and an investigation into this matter is ongoing and is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit of the Bristol County District Attorney’s, and the Fall River Police Department. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Just wide of the mark. Unfortunately, what you're looking for isn't here... Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. One of the first places Gordon Cordeiro visited when a judge ordered his release was his mother’s grave I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice After 30 years in prison for a murder he vehemently denied Gordon Cordeiro’s first stop as a free man was poignant: his mother’s gravesite in Hawaii Released on Friday following the introduction of new DNA evidence that overturned his 1994 conviction for the shooting death of Timothy Blaisdell on Maui Cordeiro spoke about his newfound freedom in a videoconference interview on Saturday added another layer of tragedy to his decades-long ordeal hours after walking out of the Maui Community Correctional Center Cordeiro said he thought constantly about his mother — who died at age 49 from ALS often called Lou Gehrig’s disease — during his years behind bars After a steak dinner and the gravesite visit, he celebrated with family at his father’s house and then found himself unable to sleep much. The following day he went to other relatives’ graves and planned to go to Costco But the Maui he once knew has changed a lot noting that the historic town of Lahaina was destroyed by a wildfire in 2023 Another thing that has taken some getting used to: “Everybody is looking at their phones.” There were gasps and cries in the courtroom Friday when Judge Kirstin Hamman announced that his sentence was vacated and he was to be released from custody. She ruled that new evidence, including DNA test results, would likely change the outcome of another trial. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin says he plans to appeal and seek to have bail imposed on Cordeiro's release. Cordeiro’s first trial ended in a hung jury, with only one juror voting to convict him. But he was later found guilty of murder, robbery and attempted murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. After Cordeiro’s conviction, new testing on physical evidence from the scene excluded him as the source of DNA on Blaisdell’s body and other crime scene evidence, the Hawaii Innocence Project said, and a DNA profile of an unidentified person was found on the inside pockets of Blaisdell’s jeans. “Thank God for new DNA,” Cordeiro said Saturday. “Technology is awesome.” The Zoom interview with the AP was the first time he used the platform and an iPad outside of prison. For now, Cordeiro said, his immediate plans include fixing cars, helping with his dad's house and “maybe giving back to the community a little bit.” Gordon Cordeiro in court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Wailuku, Hawaii Like other commentaries and letters to the editor opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of WHQR We reserve the right to decline to publish opinions or publish them with contrasting views or additional context or want to suggest or submit your own opinion piece you can reach News Director Ben Schachtman at BSchachtman@whqr.org its publisher has attempted to frame a conversation about power and control in county government But the real conversation—the one that actually matters to the citizens of Pender County—is not about personalities or political theater It is about something far more fundamental: whether we embrace a future of modernization and accountability or cling to an outdated system that resists transparency and progress there is a push for responsible governance—one that prioritizes fiscal responsibility those who prefer to operate in the shadows resisting change and accountability while using media allies to divert attention from the real issues The publisher of the Pender Post would have his readers believe that the core issue is a lack of transparency from county leadership But that framing conveniently ignores the fundamental question: why would a private company that receives over $20 million annually in taxpayer money resist basic financial oversight Why does its leadership refuse to provide the public with basic financial data The answer is simple: maintaining the status quo benefits those who operate within it The critics of reform—including certain members of the local media—are not fighting for the people of Pender County They are fighting to preserve a system that no longer serves us well The Pender Post has labeled me a puppet master and insinuated I’m a boogeyman pulling the strings of a majority of our county commissioners and an insult to the voters of Pender County and the officials who hold public office on their behalf I'm a retired Marine who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan—and saw the very real cost of freedom I'm the former finance officer of Hillsborough I'm the former town manager of Youngsville NC—a town whose size doubled while I was its manager I'm a consultant who has helped NC local governments of all sizes prepare for financial audits  My motivation for sharing ideas with our leaders in Pender County government is simple: I have real-world experience in local government and I feel complaining about problems doesn't solve them—offering innovative solutions to those who have the ability to effect change is It is about whether we choose to modernize our institutions to serve the citizens of this county effectively or allow dysfunction to continue unchecked And to those who think dysfunction is too strong a word I would say just look at the daily traffic on US Highway 17—or the fact that the county is building a new school in Hampstead that will be over capacity before its doors open For those who are ready to move beyond the distractions and toward real solutions The work of governing Pender County is not just the responsibility of a few elected officials—it is a collective effort or a desire to be part of the conversation that actually matters I invite you to join me in advocating for a county government that is transparent Coverage of the Pender EMS and Fire situation from WECT: Now there is a word that we have heard quite a bit in the past few weeks It’s mentioned frequently in the past several press releases from Pender County Government — how the goal of the Board of Commissioners is transparency These press releases push the takeover of the Pender EMS and Fire by the county as a great thing that will benefit the people of Pender County It is featured prominently on the political website of apparent Republican BOC advisor Phil Cordeiro Transparency in government is very important transparency is just a political buzz word It has no meaning because Cordeiro and his Commissioner followers Jerry Groves and Brent Springer fail to put it into practice A few years ago — maybe as many as 15 years — the Pender County Board of Commissioners had a problem with transparency The Board had a habit of adding items to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting which did not allow the public to see what was happening and allowed the Board to move through agenda items without any public input Commissioner George Brown thought this was a bad practice and in the interest of transparency pushed the Board to pass a rule that required any item added after the agenda had been finalized required a unanimous vote This prevented last minute sneaky items added and acted on without public input This great idea by Commissioner Brown has worked like a charm If an emergency item came up that needed immediate attention or something that was extremely time sensitive Legitimate needs were recognized by all Board members and had no problem being added to the agenda and Groves were planning to sneak Phil Cordeiro’s Pender EMS and Fire takeover resolution onto the agenda without advertising it publicly They couldn’t risk another room full of angry citizens objecting to the idea Remember what happened two meetings ago when Burton’s resolution requiring the Pender Sheriff's Office to become ICE agents was met with a hostile forcing Burton to back down — a resolution that wasn’t even supported by the Sheriff And the BOC trio knew they would never get a unanimous vote to add the Pender EMS resolution to the agenda with Brad George sitting there So throw transparency out the window and employ a nearly-never if ever used tactic to get the resolution on the agenda Let’s vote to suspend the rules and add the resolution there won’t be a boardroom full of opposition to the resolution and we can sneak it in I have been covering the Pender County Board of Commissioners for more than 15 years but I do not remember a Board ever suspending the rules to break a rule I would be willing to bet it was Cordeiro’s idea — I can’t see Groves the Pender EMS resolution attempted to remove the Pender EMS and Fire Board of Directors and replace them with Groves The BOC was trying to remove the Board of Directors of a private non-profit and replace them with commissioners simply because the county does business with them and they want to take it over Get ready for more of this tactic — throw it against the wall and see if it sticks Brad George scraped it off the wall and tossed it back by objecting to the takeover and it was confirmed by County Attorney Trey Thruman You can change out the county representatives but you can’t dissolve the board in favor of installing Burton but you are ok as long as you mention Jesus and say God bless Pender County on Facebook you don’t have to sneak around in the dark to get it done — it can stand the bright light of day As he was introducing Cordeiro’s Pender EMS resolution last week Springer made a point to emphasize that this was not a personal vendetta It was nearly the first words out of his mouth when someone says it ain’t about the money this BOC trio has more axes to grind than a Northwoods lumberjack convention Action like this will set Pender County back 15 years Alex Rodriguez has been in the news for years people are more interested in his girlfriend The former MLB player and the fitness enthusiast have been dating for a while While A-Rod is no stranger to the spotlight Cordeiro has been generating attention for her dedication to health and fitness as evidenced by her most recent training video Jaclyn Cordeiro’s story on Instagram read “My personal trainer is my therapist but with weights.” Cordeiro is passionate about being healthy and fit the fitness instructor created the six-week program JACFIT and has called herself the “editor-in-chief of energy.” She competes in fitness competitions and works as a registered nurse and published fitness model and writer in addition to assisting clients Five months after giving birth to her first daughter she competed in the Canadian Physique Alliance figure category she found out she was expecting her second Given that they have posted pictures and videos of their exercises together Rodriguez appears to agree with her mantra “progress not perfection,” which is her main belief that she tries to instill in others Rodriguez and Cordeiro were first connected romantically when they were photographed strolling down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills the couple shared a cute family photo right before the holidays thus making their relationship “Instagram official.” In front of a Christmas tree the 14-time MLB All-Star shared a picture of himself Just last week in Los Angeles, Rodriguez seemed to be having fun while sitting next to his girlfriend at an NBA game In Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series which Rodriguez owns with business partner Marc Lore Who is most to blame for the Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves?@getnickwright joins @colincowherd on The Herd and weighs in. pic.twitter.com/GR3EK5VYli — Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) April 29, 2025 Rodriguez is quite active in baseball and an oft-talked-about name in pop culture Rodriguez is a studio analyst for FOX Sports and is a key part of their MLB studio team alongside other notable figures like Kevin Burkhardt Rodriguez constantly made headlines when he was dating (and briefly engaged) to pop star Jennifer Lopez from 2019 to 2021 The couple was even in talks to buy the New York Mets before the team was sold to billionaire Steve Cohen in November 2020 for $2.4 billion Texas – San José State’s Chevan Cordeiro was drafted in the first round Louis Battlehawks in the 2024 UFL College Draft on Wednesday Cordeiro led the Spartans to two bowl games and 14 wins over his two years at SJSU and is the Mountain West all-time leader with 113 touchdowns responsible for in yardage gained with 13,811 yards and completions with 971 In the UFL’s inaugural season in 2024 SEASON TICKETS | 2024 SCHEDULE Chevan Cordeiro The page you requested does not exist or has moved FAYETTEVILLE — A jury found a former West Fork officer not guilty of negligent homicide Wednesday in connection with the death of a motorist during a traffic stop in late December 2022 Thanks for visiting what you're looking for isn't here.. Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey | 1/18/2025 10:08:00 PM Thanks for visiting who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he said he didn’t commit hours after a judge ordered him released because of new evidence This image made from video provided by Hawaii News Now shows Gordon Cordeiro in court on Tuesday HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he long denied committing declared the day “Freedom Friday” and said he was eager to visit his mother after a judge ordered him released because of new DNA evidence There were gasps and cries in the courtroom when Judge Kirstin Hamman said “And the judgement and sentence is vacated and the defendant is ordered to be released from custody,” before a Zoom feed broadcasting the hearing suddenly turned off would likely change the outcome of another trial against Gordon Cordeiro The case involves the 1994 killing of Timothy Blaisdell during a drug deal robbery on the island of Maui The Hawaii Innocence Project took up his case and during a hearing this week it argued that Cordeiro must be released on the grounds of new evidence proving his innocence Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin said he was disappointed in the ruling and “None of the judge’s findings exonerate him in any way.” His office intends to appeal and file a motion seeking to impose bail on Cordeiro’s release saying there is a flight risk because a murder charge is involved “He believed that he was going to be exonerated .. ‘I’m vacating your convictions,’ that’s when it hit him.” stood outside the Maui Community Correctional Center and talked to reporters calling it “Freedom Friday.” The Associated Press listened by phone from Honolulu the judge and even prosecutors who stipulated to certain facts in the case “I’d like to go see my mom,” Cordeiro said Asked about adjusting to life as a free man after 30 years behind bars According to court documents filed by Cordeiro’s attorneys he was wrongfully convicted in part because police relied upon four jailhouse informants motivated by promises of reduced sentences and fabricated murder-for-hire plots the State’s use of incentivized jailhouse informants and their fabricated evidence and testimony about the murder-for-hire plots was enough to convince a jury of his guilt in his second trial,” the Hawaii Innocence Project said in a court filing However the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to show that the state intentionally used false testimony and rejected a claim of prosecutorial misconduct Cordeiro had several alibis for the day Blaisdell was killed his attorneys said: The then-22-year-old was at home with his parents and sisters spending the day building a shelving unit in his family’s open-air garage and installing a stereo in his sister’s car — nowhere near the so-called Skid Row area in upcountry Maui where the killing happened Blaisdell had gone to Skid Row with a man named Michael Freitas and planned to buy a pound of marijuana with $800 in cash His body was found at the bottom of a ravine and he shifted the blame onto their client a friend who he falsely believed had “snitched” on him in an unrelated drug case new testing on physical evidence from the scene excluded him as the source of DNA on Blaisdell’s body and other crime scene evidence and a a DNA profile of an unidentified person was found on the inside pockets of Blaisdell’s jeans set Blaisdell up to be robbed and was involved in his killing “The police botched this case from the beginning and turned the No resulting in a 30-plus-year nightmare and miscarriage of justice for Gordon and his family,” Lawson said Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Need help accessing the FCC Public File due to a disability Please contact Melissa Johnson at publicfilestlouis@hubbardradio.com This web site is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area The same approach that often made him a villain among baseball fans might work better with his girlfriend Cordeiro posted a video Wednesday of her at the gym The reel showcased her performing hip thrusts 💪❤️,” Cordeiro wrote Rodriguez kept his thoughts short and sweet “Wow ❤️🔥,” Rodriguez commented Rodriguez wasn’t alone in praising Cordeiro Others flooded the comment section with fire “GOALS for Sure,” one user wrote Rodriguez and Cordeiro confirmed their relationship in December 2022. The two have attended numerous sports events together, including Super Bowl LVII and Minnesota Timberwolves games; Rodriguez became a minority owner in 2023 “Friends say he’s very happy and enjoying [their] time together,” an insider told Page Six in 2022 “He’s enjoying spending time with her,” they added She’s a former nurse and a mother of two.” Rodriguez hit .295 with 696 home runs and 2,086 RBI across 22 seasons with the Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers He won three AL MVP Awards and won the 2009 World Series Rodriguez attended the Yankees’ Old Timers’ Day last summer We’ll see if Cordeiro joins her boyfriend at the Yankees’ annual reunion later this year