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Manhunt Underway After Elderly Mass. Couple Found Stabbed, Beaten To Death In Home
Christopher Keeley allegedly stayed with Carl and Vicki Mattson before the couple recently asked him to leave. A friend told authorities that Keeley had fought with the Mattsons over a barking dog.
A search is underway for a man accused of the “brutal” murders of an elderly married couple.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Christopher Keeley, 27, who is a person of interest in the murders of Carl and Vicki Mattson, both 70, according to a statement by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Both victims were “bludgeoned and stabbed” before their bodies were found in their Massachusetts home Tuesday evening with “obvious signs of trauma.”
An official cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.
District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and Marshfield Police Chief Phillip A. Tavares said the incident does not appear to be a random act of violence, with Cruz calling it a “targeted attack" in a Wednesday press conference.
At around 9:19 p.m., local police were called to the 75 Gotham Hill residence in Marshfield — about 30 miles south of Boston — in response to requests for a welfare check, according to the district attorney’s office.
RELATED: Massachusetts Couple Is Found Dead In What Authorities Suspect Was A Murder Suicide
The request reportedly came from an individual who said a friend, identified as Christopher Keeley, might have harmed the couple, according to court documents cited by CBS Boston affiliate WBZ-TV.
The reporting witness said Keeley, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, previously stayed with the Mattsons as a favor to a relative but was recently asked to leave.
The witness claimed Keeley and the couple had argued over a barking dog, according to the court documents.
Keeley allegedly became upset after a woman in Weymouth — less than 20 miles northwest of Marshfield — refused to let him stay at her home, the friend told authorities. Keeley allegedly feared he’d become homeless.
The friend said Keeley recently seemed “psychotic” and expressed the desire to hurt the Mattsons and possibly others.
Keeley was also known to carry knives, according to the friend.
Police found the Mattsons’ bodies just inside their residence, as well as signs of a struggle, including an overturned bookcase, according to CBS Boston.
Court records state the couple had been killed within the past week.
The Massachusetts State Police issued an alert Wednesday morning, seeking the public’s help in locating Christopher Keeley and a black 2019 Jeep Wrangler, warning the public that Keeley “may be armed.”
In an updated release, state police said they located the vehicle, giving few details other than to say it was “unoccupied.” According to WBZ-TV, the Jeep was found in a parking lot in Avon, about 20 miles west of Marshfield.
At Wednesday’s press conference, District Attorney Cruz said the Jeep was taken from the Mattsons’ address but stopped short of confirming whether or not it belonged to the victims.
Cruz said they were “not sure how long [Keeley] has been gone,” though they hoped to determine a timeline pending the postmortem examinations, which should provide a time of death.
He added Keeley is considered “armed and dangerous” and not believed to be in the area.
State Police say Keeley is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.
Marshfield Police Chief Tavares said at Wednesday's press conference that the suspect may have dyed his hair red and goes by the name “Crispy.”
Cruz added he may be living with “mental health issues.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact State Trooper Cali Gately at 1-774-434-5999 or Marshfield Police Detective Tim Chiappini at 1-774-380-4289.
According to District Attorney Cruz, Vicki Mattson would have turned 71 on Wednesday.
