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Mom charged with beating up son's ex

By Julie Manganis
Staff writer
Published: May 1, 2009

SALEM — Three members of a Salem family, including a 47-year-old mother and two of her teenage children, wound up in handcuffs Wednesday after allegedly attacking the same woman in separate incidents.

Michelle Rubano, 47, and her daughter, Nicole Rubano, 17, were arraigned in Salem District Court on charges of witness intimidation, breaking and entering and assault and battery, while a couple of miles away, Thomas Rubano, 19, was being arraigned on charges of domestic assault and battery in Peabody District Court. All three live at 11 Pyburn Ave., Salem and all have pleaded not guilty.

Police say that on Wednesday afternoon, Rubano's former girlfriend went to a home in Peabody to pick up their 6-month-old son from a visit with Rubano. Rubano allegedly swung the car seat at the ex-girlfriend's back, leading her to slap Rubano. Rubano allegedly responded by slamming her head into the trunk lid several times.

Shortly after Rubano was arrested, his mother, Michelle Rubano, tried calling the former girlfriend, who did not want to talk, according to a police report.

Then, about two hours after the incident in Peabody, Michelle and Nicole Rubano showed up at the former girlfriend's apartment on Margin Street, directly across from the Salem police station.

The former girlfriend told a judge yesterday that Michelle Rubano kicked in her door and the two attacked her, with Michelle yelling, "Kill her."

Police say the attack was in retaliation for the arrest of Thomas Rubano.

Police found Michelle and Nicole Rubano outside the apartment, looking somewhat disheveled. The two women were arrested after police spoke with the former girlfriend.

Judge Richard Mori released the two on personal recognizance but ordered them to stay away from the ex-girlfriend. He also issued a restraining order to the former girlfriend, barring all three Rubanos from contact with her.

In Peabody, Judge James O'Leary released Thomas Rubano on $500 cash bail, and declined a prosecutor's request to revoke his bail in a pending drug and weapons case.

Peabody police have also filed a report on the incident with the Department of Children and Families.