Former Hadley resident convicted after unleashing bees on deputies

SPRINGFIELD — A former Hadley woman who unleashed bees on Hampden County sheriff’s office workers in an attempt to prevent them from serving a court-ordered eviction notice in Longmeadow in 2022 was found guilty by a Hampden County jury Friday.

Rebecca Rorie Woods was found guilty in Springfield District Court on four counts of assault and battery and two counts of reckless assault, according to the Hampden County Sheriff’s office.

Associate District Court Justice Mary Beth Ogulewicz presided over the case and handed down a sentence of six months in jail, with credit for 148 days previously served. Woods will continue to be held at the Franklin County House of Corrections in Greenfield.

Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi expressed appreciation for the jury’s decision.

“We are pleased that the jury carefully reviewed the facts of this case and recognized
the very real danger that our deputies faced that day,” Cocchi said. “The actions taken by Rebecca Woods put members of our team directly in harm’s way while they were simply
carrying out their lawful duties.”

Around 9:15 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2022, Woods, 59, who had previously lived at Golden Court in Hadley, drove into the driveway of a Longmeadow home towing a flatbed trailer carrying multiple manufactured beehives. As deputies with the sheriff’s Civil Process Division attempted to carry out the eviction, Woods exited her vehicle and attempted to release thousands of bees.

Woods smashed open hive boxes and flipped them from the trailer, with deputies and others stung multiple times. One staff member was transported to the hospital.

As Woods donned a beekeeper suit and moved additional hives toward the home, deputies
intervened and placed her under arrest. During the arrest, she was heard directing another
individual to care for her dog, which remained in her vehicle.

When informed that some deputies were allergic to bees, Woods allegedly responded, “Oh, you’re allergic? Good.”

Thousands of bees died during the incident.

The case drew further attention when Woods fled ahead of her initially scheduled trial in August 2025. She was arrested in Tennessee and then extradited to Massachusetts.

Assistant Hampden District Attorney Blake McConnell prosecuted the case.

Even after the incident, the Hampden County dheriff’s office continued to offer assistance to the individual who was going to be evicted.

“We don’t just show up to enforce an order, we try to help people through difficult situations,” Cocchi added. “That commitment doesn’t change, even in the face of something like this.”