Norton man convicted in Taunton double stabbing gets life in prison

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A Norton man who was convicted of stabbing his father to death and then stabbing his stepmother in 2021 was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

Gary Bergantim, 38, was convicted of first-degree murder in Fall River Superior Court. He was additionally convicted of assault with intent to murder, which comes with a concurrent sentence of 15 -20 years.

Police say the double stabbing happened on the morning of Feb. 7 on Cohannet Street in Taunton.

Crime scene tape is seen at a home on Cohannet Street in Taunton, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (WLNE)

In court Thursday, prosecutors read a victim impact statement written by the stepmother, Lucia, who listened along emotionally from the courtroom crowd.

In her letter, Lucia wrote that Gary stole the normalcy, peace, and ability to function from her life, saying he took away her husband and left her with injuries that still affect her in the present day.

She asked the judge in the closing remarks of her statement to sentence Gary Bergantim to the maximum sentence, fearing he would try to kill her if he was freed.

Gary Bergantim is seen in Fall River Superior Court, Thursday, May 11, 2023. (WLNE)

When officers arrived at the scene, two people were found stabbed, including 60-year-old Jorge Bergantim. They were taken to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

Police say Jorge later died from his injuries. The stepmom survived.

Crime scene tape is seen at a home on Cohannet Street in Taunton, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (WLNE)

After the stabbing, Gary headed back to Norton. Shortly after, police spotted Gary’s car in a parking lot. He was then arrested.

Gary is currently being held at the Bridgewater State Hospital and is set to stay there through the end of May, before being transferred to state prison.

After the sentencing, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said that Bergantim could remain in psychiatric care for his sentence.