In the wake of the murder of two Boston-area doctors, as investigators begin to piece together what happened and why, family members and friends of the couple want them to be remembered for more than the way they died.
Dr Richard Field, 49, and his 38-year-old fiancee, Dr Lina Bolanos, were killed on Friday evening in their penthouse condominium in the Macallen building in South Boston. Field had texted a friend to let him know there was an armed man in the home.
Field, from Kingston-upon-Thames in south-west London, emigrated to the US as a child with his brother and mother. He was an anesthesiologist. Bolanos, a pediatric anesthesiologist, came to the US from Colombia.
“Richard and Lina were loving, vital people whose joy for life was infectious and love for family absolute,” Field’s brother, Jason, said. “They thrived on traveling, experiencing cultures and making friends in every port. As such, their loss will be felt by family and loved ones across the world.”
Pictures on Field’s Facebook page showed the couple’s travels in Holland, Tanzania, New Orleans and Key West. Field aspired to work with Médecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) later in his career. His family has asked that in lieu of flowers, well-wishers offer donations to the charity.
“As doctors, they dedicated their professional lives to alleviating suffering and ensuring the safety of those most vulnerable – children undergoing surgery,” Jason Field said. “As family members, they adored their nieces and nephews as if their own children and always found the time to take interest in each and every one of us, no matter what was on their plate.”
Former patients used social media to share warm memories of the pair. One Boston woman who said she saw Dr Field for two years said she had “lost a friend”. Another said Dr Bolernos was “kind and hardworking”, someone who “cared very deeply”.
Staff at North Shore Pain Management, where Field practiced, said his death left an “inescapable void”. Their statement went on: “Dr Field was noted for his tireless dedication to his patients, staff and colleagues.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Jason Field said his brother met Bolanos when he was a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and she attended his anesthesiology class.
“At the time Lina was unavailable,” he said. “Several years later, the couple reconnected. He courted her like a true English gentlemen. He introduced her to his British and American friends and colleagues in Boston.”
The two had planned to marry in Colombia, so Bolernos’ family could attend.
Bampumim Teixeira, a 30-year-old west African with permanent resident status, was arrested on the scene of the murders on Friday night, after being shot several times by police. Field and Bolanos were found tied up with their throats cut and were pronounced dead on the scene. Investigators found a black bag full of jewelry in the condominium.
Police authorities initially said Teixeira fired at them when approached by officers. The district attorney’s office subsequently corrected that account, concluding that he did not fire a weapon and that the firearm found on the scene was a replica. A knife was also recovered.
Teixeira was arraigned without bail from his hospital bed on Monday and charged with two counts of murder. He pleaded not guilty.
Investigators did not disclose how Teixeira may have gained access to the apartment. The building has security cameras and personnel, and elevator access to the penthouse requires a digital key fob. In a press conference, Suffolk County district attorney Daniel Conley, whose office is leading the investigation, said “there is no evidence whatsoever at this stage to conclude that this defendant had a personal relationship with Dr Bolanos or Dr Field”.
In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Palladion Services, which managed the property until February, said Teixeira “worked at the Macallen property for approximately three weeks, more than one year ago. He was hired in October 2015 and his employment ended in April 2016”.
Teixeira was convicted for robbing a total of $800 from a Boston Citizens Bank on two occasions in 2014 and 2016. He pled guilty to larceny and received a suspended sentence of 364 days in prison. Had that sentence been a day longer it could have triggered deportation.
A week ago, Jason Field and his wife, Jodi, were planning a birthday party for one of Richard Field’s nephews. They are now planning a memorial service instead. It is expected to be held on Friday in Boston’s South End and the family expects a large, diverse attendance.
“We want to remember Richard and Lina for who they were, not how they died,” Jason Field said. “Their impact in the world – in the lives of those who they loved, those who loved them, and the patients that they cared for – is the real newsworthy story.
“We will remember and celebrate their passion, gentility, and extraordinary kindness forever.”
