GREENFIELD — Taaniel Herberger-Brown, the city man accused of murdering Christopher Hairston of Pittsfield earlier this year, has been indicted on a charge of murder by a grand jury and will be arraigned in Franklin County Superior Court on Oct. 21, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

The 42-year-old Greenfield man was arrested on a murder charge at Albany International Airport on April 23 after reports of a foul odor brought police to his former apartment at 92 Chapman St. earlier that day. Upon arrival, Greenfield Police Officer Brent Griffin discovered a decomposing body, later identified as Hairston, who was 35.

Herberger-Brown was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder in Greenfield District Court in July.

He later appeared before Judge William Mazanec III on Aug. 28 in district court where First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne requested a continuance of the pretrial conference, citing additional discovery and a grand jury conference slated for Sept. 6 through Sept. 27 as reasons.

While being investigated by Greenfield Police and Massachusetts State Police, Herberger-Brown allegedly told officers that a man, who he believed to be on drugs, had broken into his apartment and engaged in a physical altercation with him. Toward the end of the altercation, Herberger-Brown told police that the victim’s “heart stopped,” according to police reports.

According to a report written by State Trooper Blakely Pottinger, Herberger-Brown initially told officers that he was “in and out of hospitals” and “had not been at the apartment for several months.” The report also states Herberger-Brown told police he went to Albany International Airport with plans to visit his mother outside of the country.

“Herberger-Brown provided several different locations he was traveling to, including Vancouver, Germany, Prince Edward Island and New Finland,” the report states.

Herberger-Brown is a former Northampton High School Class of 1999 graduate and U.S. Navy veteran. He has had earlier brushes with the law in the area, including an arrest on kidnapping and assault charges in Northampton in 2008. He also was featured in a 2021 Washington Post article for his volunteer work at Stone Soup Cafe in Greenfield.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.