UPDATE: Rockport man arraigned in Massachusetts court, charged with four counts of murder
AYER, MASS. – Orion Krause, 22, of Rockport, Maine, has been charged with four counts of murder following the Sept. 8 homicide in Groton, Massachusetts. Krause was arraigned Sept. 11 in Ayer District Court today. According to the Lowell Sun, Orion Krause is held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital pending a competency evaluation.
Read update: Rockport man charged with slaying mother, grandparents, healthcare worker
An article in the Lowell Sun said his arraignment was brief, and that “He was arrested Friday after four people — an elderly couple and two middle-aged women – were found dead at a house at 80 Common St. in Groton. Officials have not yet released the victims' identities.”
Additionally, the Lowell Sun said the police report from Sept. 8 has been impounded.
Identifying information about the victims continues to be withheld pending positive identification by the Office of the Medical Examiner, said the D.A.’s office.
“The investigation into this matter remains open and ongoing,” said Kelly, Sept. 10.
Read more information from local Massachusetts media sources: The Boston Globe (Groton Quadruple Murder Appears To Be Case Of ‘Tragic Family Violence’ ) and Lowell Sun (Groton neighbor: “He said, “I murdered four people”’).
On Sept. 9, the D.A.’s office issued the following news release:
“On September 8, 2017, at approximately 5:52 p.m., Groton Police responded to a report of a person in need of assistance on Common Street. Upon arrival, investigators gathered information which led them to a second residence on Common Street. There they located four deceased individuals; an elderly male and female as well as two middle-aged women. Three of the bodies were found inside of the house and one was found outside.
“The preliminary investigation suggests that the cause of death of all of the decedents was blunt force trauma. It is believed that all parties were known to each other and that this is a tragic incident of family violence.
“This is an open and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Groton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. No further information will be released pending official identification by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and notification of next of kin.
“This does not appear to be a random incident and there is no present danger to the public.”
This article will be updated as information becomes available.
Sarah Thompson can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com
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