As we ring in the new year, it’s only right that we take a look back at our top stories of 2025. According to our itemlive.com analytics data, below are the top three most-viewed stories from Marblehead with brief summaries.
Change urged in wake of 13-year-old’s death in Marblehead
The Marblehead community is reeling after a tragic crash on Aug. 19 claimed the life of 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell and left a 16-year-old boy facing serious criminal charges.
Authorities said the teen has been charged with motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, and operating under the influence of liquor, along with two civil motor vehicle infractions.
The crash occurred just before 3 a.m. on Atlantic Avenue, where the vehicle struck a stone wall. The site has since become a growing memorial, with flowers, candles, and handwritten notes honoring Gatchell’s memory.
As Marblehead mourns the loss of Gatchell, the call to action has struck a chord with many residents. Community members have begun reaching out to elected officials to push for changes that would prevent future tragedies.
Marblehead to pay $295,000 to fired cop
More than four years after he was first placed on administrative leave, Marblehead Police Officer Christopher Gallo’s long-running employment dispute with the Town has finally reached a financial settlement.
The resolution, announced at the Select Board’s Oct. 22 meeting, brings closure to a case that spanned multiple town administrations, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in paid leave, and culminated in arbitration after Gallo’s 2024 termination.
Chair Dan Fox summarized the settlement terms reached between the Town and Gallo. Under the agreement, the Town will pay $295,000 to resolve all financial issues stemming from the arbitration award.
With the settlement executed, Marblehead has officially closed the books on a disciplinary saga that spanned from 2021-2025, involving multiple extensions, legal challenges, and administrative transitions.
ICE targets landscaping crew in Marblehead
At approximately 8:21 a.m. on Sept. 12 on Beach Street in Marblehead, three unmarked vehicles, believed to be U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stopped a Lassana’s Landscaping truck to capture multiple individuals.
The Marblehead Police Department and District Attorney Paul Tucker were not notified of ICE’s presence before the arrest.
Sarah Fox described seeing several vehicles surrounding the landscaping truck, blocking it from the front and side. When she approached, she noticed one individual wearing a vest labeled “FBI” and another marked “police.” She said the men yelled at the driver, accusing him of having fake identification.
Alarmed, Fox phoned her husband, Matt, an attorney who speaks Spanish. He ran to the scene, identified himself as both a lawyer and resident of the street — and he refused orders to leave.
Fox said her husband had attempted to cite laws and call attention to what she believed were violations, but the agents continued with the detention.
