List of homicides in Massachusetts

Last updated

This is a list of homicides in Massachusetts. The list features only notable homicides that have Wikipedia articles of their own.

Contents

The list is divided into three categories:

Multiple homicides

Listed in reverse chronological order.

IncidentLocationDateDeathsInjuredTotalDescription
Boston Marathon bombing Boston April 15–19, 20136 [a] 281287 Islamic terrorism: Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev carried out a bombing at the 117th Boston Marathon and fatally shot a police officer three days later while on the run. Tamerlan was killed during their fugitive period, while Dzhokhar was apprehended and sentenced to death; he is currently incarcerated at ADX Florence. [1] [2]
2011 Waltham triple murder Waltham c. September 11, 2011303Three men had their throats slashed in an apartment. Tamerlan Tsarnaev (co-perpetrator of the Boston Marathon bombing) and Ibragim Todashev were suspects in the case but were both killed in 2013. [3]
Edgewater Technology shooting Wakefield December 26, 2000707 Shooting: Michael McDermott killed seven of his co-workers at Edgewater Technology. He is incarcerated at Old Colony Correctional Center as of 2025. [4]
Brookline clinic shootings Brookline December 30, 1994257Shooting: John Salvi, a Catholic anti-abortion extremist, carried out attacks at two abortion clinics. He committed suicide in prison in 1996. [5]
1992 Bard College at Simon's Rock shooting Great Barrington December 14, 1992246Shooting: Student Wayne Lo carried out a shooting at Bard College at Simon's Rock, killing one student and one professor. He is currently serving two life sentences. [6]
Boston Chinatown massacre BostonJanuary 12, 19915611Shooting: A gang-related attack in which five men were killed execution-style at a gambling den in Boston's Chinatown. Two men were convicted for the massacre, while a third suspect remains a fugitive as of 2025. [7]
Blackfriars Massacre BostonJune 28, 1978505Shooting: Mob-related massacre that occurred in the Blackfriars Pub in Downtown Boston. The attack, which is believed to have been a robbery-gone-wrong, remains officially unsolved. [8]
Borden murders Fall River August 4, 1892202 Axe murders: Married couple Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered in their home. Andrew's daughter (and Abby's stepdaughter), Lizzie Borden, was infamously tried and acquitted in the case. [9]
Boston Massacre BostonMarch 5, 17705611Shooting: A confrontation during the American Revolution in which a crowd was opened fire on by British soldiers. [10]

Serial killers

Serial killers who operated solely within or had at least three victims within Massachusetts. Listed in reverse chronological order.

PerpetratorLocationDateDeathsDescription
Stewart Weldon Springfield 2017–20183Weldon murdered three women and hid their bodies on his property and is also suspected to be responsible for a series of rapes. He is currently incarcerated at Old Colony Correctional Center. [11]
Main South Woodsman Worcester 2002–20043–5Unidentified serial killer who targeted sex workers. [12]
Alfred Gaynor Springfield1995–19989Drug-addicted serial murderer and rapist. Gaynor is currently an inmate at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. [13] [14]
New Bedford Highway Killer New Bedford 1988–198911Unidentified serial killer who targeted sex workers. [15]
Michael Sumpter Greater Boston 1969–19733Raped and strangled three women; identified posthumously. [16]
Tony Costa Truro 1968–19694+Murdered and dismembered at least four women; committed suicide behind bars in 1974. [17]
Kenneth Harrison Boston1967–19694Serial killer nicknamed "The Giggler" due to the perpetrator, Kenneth Harrison, calling the police after each murder and giggling. He committed suicide in prison in 1989. [18] [19]
Boston Strangler Multiple counties1962–196413An unidentified serial murderer of women. Rapist Albert DeSalvo confessed to the killings, which remain mostly unsolved, before he was murdered in prison in 1973. In 2013, DNA evidence linked him to the final victim. [20]
Jane Toppan Multiple counties1895–190112–100+Nurse who poisoned patients. After her apprehension, Toppan was committed to Taunton State Hospital, where she died in 1938. [21]
Sarah Jane Robinson Boston1881–18868–11Serial killer who poisoned her relatives; died behind bars in 1906. [22]
Thomas W. Piper Boston1873–18752–3Convicted for the murder of two girls and confessed to a third. Piper was executed by hanging in 1876. [23]

Single homicides

Listed in reverse chronological order.

IncidentLocationDateSolved?Ref.
Murder of Vanessa Marcotte, 27 Princeton August 7, 2016Check-green.svg [24]
Murder of Bella Bond, 2Bostonc. May–June 2015Check-green.svg [25]
Murder of Odin Lloyd, 27 North Attleborough June 17, 2013Check-green.svg [26]
Murder of Rebecca Riley, 4 Hull December 13, 2006Check-green.svg [27]
Murder of Christa Worthington, 45TruroJanuary 6, 2002Check-green.svg [28]
Killing of Molly Bish, 16 Warren June 27, 2000Dark Red x.svg [29]
Murder of Deanna Cremin, 17 Somerville March 30, 1995Dark Red x.svg [30]
Murder of Holly Piirainen, 10 Sturbridge August 5, 1993Dark Red x.svg [31]
Murder of Kristin Lardner, 21BostonMay 20, 1992Check-green.svg [32]
Murder of Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11 Lawrence September 11, 1988Dark Red x.svg [33]
Murder of Tiffany Moore, 12BostonAugust 19, 1988Check-green.svg [34]
Assassination of Orhan Gündüz SomervilleMay 4, 1982Dark Red x.svg [35]
Murder of Andrew Puopolo, 21BostonNovember 15, 1976Check-green.svg [36]
Murder of Ruth Marie Terry, 37Body found in Provincetown c. July 1974Check-green.svg [37]
Murder of Danny Croteau, 13 Chicopee April 14, 1972Check-green.svg [38]
Murder of John J. McCabe, 15 Lowell September 27, 1969Check-green.svg [39]
Murder of Edward Deegan, 35 Chelsea March 12, 1965Check-green.svg [40]
Murder of George Parkman, 59BostonNovember 23, 1849Check-green.svg [41]
Murder of Elizabeth Fales, 18 Dedham May 18, 1801Check-green.svg [42]
Murder of Christopher Seider, 11BostonFebruary 22, 1770Check-green.svg [43]
Murder of John Newcomen Plymouth Colony 1630Check-green.svg [44]

Notes

  1. Including co-perpetrator Tamerlan Tsarnaev and a police officer who died from his injuries in 2014

References

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