Members of Mass. State Police face criminal charges in Enrique Delgado-Garcia’s death
This story was updated at 5:33 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 to correct Jennifer Penton's rank. She is a lieutenant.
A Massachusetts State Police Academy supervisor and three full-time instructors will face criminal charges following an independent investigation into the death of Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who died a day after becoming unconscious during a boxing training exercise at the state police academy in September 2024.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell provided an update on Monday, alongside independent investigator David Meier, as they revealed that the investigations uncovered "wanton, reckless conduct" by academy staff who oversaw physical exercises.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell and independent investigator David Meier during a press conference on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.Charlie McKenna
Delgado-Garcia, 25, was sworn in a Massachusetts State Police trooper hours before his death. Before entering the police academy, he worked in Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early's Office for about two years.
"He should be alive today," Campbell said during a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Officials identified the four Massachusetts State Police Academy staff who will be summoned to court. Meier said that they have not been, nor will they be, arrested.
Lt. Jennifer Penton, Trooper Edwin Rodriguez, Trooper David Montanez and Trooper Casey LaMonte were all charged with involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury to a person participating in a training involving physical exercise.
Penton faces an additional charge of perjury. An attorney for her declined to comment when reached by MassLive Monday afternoon.
Lawyers for Rodriguez, Montanez and LaMonte did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meier said that the Chief Justice of the Superior Court allowed the impanelment of a statewide grand jury that enabled his investigative team to compel witness testimony under oath and subpoena documents.
The grand jury heard sworn testimony from over 150 witnesses, the vast majority of whom worked for the state police. The grand jury also reviewed close to 350 physical exhibits that related to policies, procedures and activities at the State Police training academy.
"Members of the State Police Training Academy committed a series of wanton and reckless acts in connection with various defense tactics and physical confrontation training exercises conducted at the academy," Meier said.
He also described the circumstances underlying the wanton and reckless conduct as including both affirmative acts by academy staff and the failure of staff to take "certain actions or omissions that they had a legal duty to perform during their daily interactions with the trainees who were under their care, guidance and supervision."
He described the boxing training exercise that led to Delgado-Garcia's death as "unauthorized, unapproved, and unsupervised."
Asked during the press conference about whether there would be consequences for Delgado-Garcia's sparring partner, Campbell said, "Not in this investigation."
In a statement, State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said Monday was a "difficult and somber day" for the agency.
"We respect the legal process and have fully cooperated with the independent investigation while remaining focused on our mission and continuing the important work of keeping Massachusetts communities safe," Noble said.
Noble noted that the agency implemented a series of reforms to the academy in the wake of Delgago-Garcia's death, including commissioning a review by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which is "nearing completion."
"Our work continues with focus and resolve, guided by Enrique's memory, and committed to the highest standards of professionalism, leadership, and training. We will remain engaged with the legal process and will reserve further comment at this time to protect its integrity," Noble said.
Early, the district attorney, previously announced he would not oversee the investigation into Delgado-Garcia's death, citing a conflict of interest. Campbell opted to appoint an independent investigator after determining any district attorney would face a conflict because of their ties to State Police.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
90th Recruit Training Troop graduation ceremony in Worcester's DCU on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
Protesters gathered outside the DCU in Worcester in support of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trooper who died last month.
"We know it was in a boxing ring, it was videotaped," Early said during a press conference at the Worcester Courthouse days after Delgado-Garcia's death.
Early said he did not think it would be "appropriate" for another district attorney to oversee the investigation.
An autopsy released to the family of Delgado-Garcia in August 2025 found that he died due to blunt force injuries to the head.
The autopsy states he died of complications from "intracranial hemorrhages due to blunt impact injuries of the head in the setting of physical training exercises," according to his family's lawyer, Mike Wilcox.
On September 13, 2024, two hours before he died in his hospital bed, Enrique Delgado-García was officially sworn in as a Massachusetts State Police trooper. Sandra García took her son's hand, while his sister Cinthia Ramírez García held his trooper badge.(Courtesy of Enrique Delgado García's family)
His death was ruled accidental by the state's medical examiner's office, Wilcox said, with a note that Delgado-García was "injured during physical training exercises."
On Sept. 23, 2024, Campbell chose defense attorney Meier to lead the investigation into Delgado-Garcia's death.
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