Dead man, woman in Ashby identified as former spouses
ASHBY — Confirming the death of a man and a woman on Watatic
Mountain Road Friday as a murder-suicide, Middlesex County District
Attorney Marian Ryan and Ashby Chief of Police Fred Alden released the
names of the deceased Sunday night.
Rebecca Griffin, 51, of Fitchburg, and John Griffin, 55, the resident of the home on Watatic Mountain Road, formerly married, were named in a joint news release. The two divorced around 1990, but Rebecca Griffin would come by her ex-husband’s home to help him with errands and chores, the officials said.
On Friday, their bodies were discovered on the front lawn of John
Griffin’s home. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,
both died from multiple sharp-force wounds indicating the use of a
knife. The investigation revealed that John Griffin killed Rebecca
Griffin outside of the home before stabbing himself, the release said
“This is a senseless and tragic crime,” Ms. Ryan said. “Rebecca Griffin would come to her ex-husband’s home to assist him ... and, sadly, she lost her life in the interest of helping him.”
“Ashby is a small, quiet town where incidents like these are not common,” Chief Alden said. He said the situation was isolated and thanked local residents for their co-operation.
The identities of the deceased were initially withheld so that next of kin could be notified. The state and local police investigation into the case remains active, the officials said.
Two people were found dead Friday afternoon at a home in a rural area near the New Hampshire border
Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan and Ashby Police Chief Fred S. Alden have confirmed that Ashby Police learned of a death on Watatic Mountain Road about 1:30 p.m.
When they arrived at the home, they found two bodies: a man who lived there and a woman whom they said he knew.
The incident is believed to be a murder-suicide, but the investigation will continue.
No additional information was released Friday night, pending notification of next of kin.
Officials called the case an isolated incident, posing no threat to public safety.
Rebecca Griffin, 51, of Fitchburg, and John Griffin, 55, the resident of the home on Watatic Mountain Road, formerly married, were named in a joint news release. The two divorced around 1990, but Rebecca Griffin would come by her ex-husband’s home to help him with errands and chores, the officials said.
“This is a senseless and tragic crime,” Ms. Ryan said. “Rebecca Griffin would come to her ex-husband’s home to assist him ... and, sadly, she lost her life in the interest of helping him.”
“Ashby is a small, quiet town where incidents like these are not common,” Chief Alden said. He said the situation was isolated and thanked local residents for their co-operation.
The identities of the deceased were initially withheld so that next of kin could be notified. The state and local police investigation into the case remains active, the officials said.
Two people were found dead Friday afternoon at a home in a rural area near the New Hampshire border
Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan and Ashby Police Chief Fred S. Alden have confirmed that Ashby Police learned of a death on Watatic Mountain Road about 1:30 p.m.
When they arrived at the home, they found two bodies: a man who lived there and a woman whom they said he knew.
No additional information was released Friday night, pending notification of next of kin.
Officials called the case an isolated incident, posing no threat to public safety.
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