The Murder of Zackary Marshall

There’s been a lot of interest in Zack’s case. As the interest grows, it makes the most sense to have one place that portrays the truth of what’s happening in real-time.

If you’re new here, thank you in advance for being here. We will provide insight into the Rhode Island cold case for the 2010 murder of Zackary Marshall in downtown Providence, RI, which received its big break in 2021. After a 6-month investigation, a grand jury handed down an indictment for murder, leading to the arrest of 33-year-old Jason Lopes of North Attleboro, a man who lived only 4 miles from Zack and his family.

Who was Zack Marshall?

Zackary Marshall, born on May 27th, 1988, was a 22-year-old who had recently welcomed his first child, a daughter with whom he would only get to spend six short weeks before he was killed. He was the oldest son of Dianne and Paul Marshall of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and the older brother to one sister. Zack was well-liked and had a vibrant spirit. He walked around the world fearlessly, loving, and accepting of all. Many people were deeply affected by his loss, and alongside his family, await justice.

December 18th, 2010

In the early morning hours of December 18, 2010, on Peck St in Providence, Rhode Island, Zackary Marshall and his friend Matt left Ten Prime Steak and Sushi.

As they were leaving the bar, something unfolded in the street, and Zack and Matt made contact with a group of three men and a woman. The details of what led to the altercation are still unclear. From what we can gather, Zack came out of the bar happy and joyful, talking and complimenting others in the street. Zack spoke to the group. Matt and one of Jason’s accomplices, Enson, began having a physical altercation and Jason and Zack followed. What is certain at this point in the process is that Jason Lopes stabbed Zackary Marshall four times and there were additional injuries that showed he tried to defend himself.

Jason Lopes and his accomplices, former girlfriend Claudia Casimiro, her brother Paulo Casimiro, and friend Enson Ibanez ran from the scene and called for a ride.

In the days that followed, Jason, Enson, Claudia, and Paulo would make a pact, burn the clothes they wore, get rid of the knife, and search for cameras along the getaway route.

For ten years, they would all hide in plain sight and build their lives, living just minutes from all the people who grieved Zack’s loss.

2021 – A Grand Jury Indictment

With no real lead, Zack’s murder eventually landed with the Rhode Island Cold Case unit. Detective Angelo A’vant, the lead investigator on the case, began to investigate on a tip from someone seeking a lesser sentence. This person will also be a part of the trial, to our understanding. But until we reach this portion of the proceedings and more of this information becomes available in public court records, we’ll revisit this.

Detective A’Vant began digging, and things quickly unfolded. Jason Lopes was tipped off by one of his accomplices that A’vant was asking questions, and it was then that he moved to Texas. Upon his arrival, according to Texas court records, the mother of his child filed for child support. Detective D’Avant testified during a recent bail hearing that the child’s mother felt it was odd that he moved there. He apparently decided that escaping justice and bringing the investigation to Texas, where his child was likely living peacefully, was the best course of action.

After six months of grand jury meetings, a grand jury handed down an indictment for murder.

We were notified that there was movement on the case and that someone would be arrested. We didn’t know who, but after ten years without an answer, the state built their case and led us to one of the moments we had all hoped and imagined.

August 2023 – The Bail Hearing

After two and a half years from the initial arrest, hope was renewed. We walked into a bail hearing requested nearly two years from the arrest.

The state brought in Matt (Zack’s friend), Claudia Casimiro, Paulo Casimiro, and Detective A’vant as witnesses. Over the course of two days, they would testify to what happened to Zack. The state presented autopsy information, at which time Jason Lopes’ mother left the courtroom, unable to look at what her son did. The state proved that it was indeed Jason Lopes who committed the murder.

Jason Lopes’ lawyer, John Calcagni, conceded that it was Jason Lopes’ actions that killed Zack but claimed it was in self-defense and the defense of others. He then requested the hearing be moved to tier 2.

Tier 1: Proof of guilt is evident or the presumption is great.

Tier 2: Court’s discretion.

With this request, he submitted an abundant report, which included over a dozen letters of support from Jason’s family, including photos of him with his family over the last ten years. They pointed to the fact that he had no criminal history and stuck to the claim that he didn’t flee and wasn’t a flight risk, but that he moved to Texas for his child. They showed that he had the support of his family, including his stepfather, a well-known and connected police officer and now director of administration who communicates directly with the executive branch in the state of Rhode Island. They showed that, regardless of the bail amount, they had the assets to support his release, providing him residence in Central Falls with his grandmother, and they would also be using the same residence for bail. The court granted Jason Lopes bail.

What happened to all of us when we walked out of that courthouse after waiting nearly 13 years for some semblance of justice is beyond what words can describe at this point in time. We fight to cope with the pain that the person responsible would again be able to enjoy the comforts of his life and family.

Following the bail hearing, Dianne and Paul Marshall released a statement to the Sun Chronicle regarding the decision for bail. John Calcagni also gave a statement.

“Calcagni said Zachary Marshall was the aggressor and was drinking that night with a friend. He said Marshall apparently behaved uncharacteristically and started what he called an unprovoked encounter with his client’s friends.

“My client’s admitted actions were motivated by self-defense and the defense of others in his small group, who had been out celebrating that evening and had fallen victim to Mr. Marshall’s antagonistic and violent conduct,” Calcagni said.

Self-defense. The only plausible way out of this situation at this point, and not a care in the world about Zack’s dignity. Zack was left dying in the street, bleeding to death from stab wounds and defensive wounds while Jason and his friends ran and tried to cover it up. Just because his lawyer said these things, it doesn’t make them true.

But it brings us here, where we will share updates on the case and share words from the people closest to Zack. We’ve waited long enough, and we’ve seen enough.

Detective A’vant, who once said in an interview with the Boston Globe, “The wheels of justice never move fast enough for the families that are mourning their loved ones.”

Thirteen years later, everyone still mourns for Zack, and every day that the Marshalls have to wait for justice, they stand in the most unbearable shock to the human spirit. Your children aren’t supposed to die before you. You certainly aren’t supposed to have to sit through every gruesome detail of their death over and over again. The system isn’t designed for victims. His life mattered and his family deserves justice now.