DA: 63-year-old woman dies trying to break up family fight

METHUEN, Mass. – Authorities say what started as a social media dispute between cousins ended with a 63-year-old woman dead and her 23-year-old niece facing charges.

The Essex district attorney’s office says police responded to a Methuen home at about 10 p.m. Sunday for reports of a fight and an unresponsive woman.

Authorities say 63-year-old Martina Gomez suffered some sort of medical emergency when she tried to intervene in a fight between her daughter and her niece, Modesta Gomez.

She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Modesta Gomez was charged with assault and battery on a person over 60. A not guilty plea was entered on her behalf at her arraignment Monday and she was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.

Her father said she is innocent. Her lawyer didn’t immediately return a phone call.