True crime cases in Massachusetts span decades of criminal history, from unsolved disappearances in rural communities to high-profile investigations in the state's largest cities. Massachusetts law enforcement agencies, from local police departments to the state bureau of investigation, have tackled cases ranging from cold-case homicides and serial offenders to fraud schemes and domestic violence tragedies. CaseSleuth tracks each Massachusetts case with comprehensive timelines, profiles of victims and persons of interest, evidence summaries, and links to media coverage and court documents. Browse the cases below to explore the full scope of criminal investigations in Massachusetts.
5 cases found
Ana Walshe, a 39-year-old mother of three in Cohasset, Massachusetts, was murdered by her husband Brian Walshe on New Year's Day 2023. Brian dismembered her body and disposed of the remains across multiple locations. He was convicted of first-degree murder in July 2024 and sentenced to life without parole.
In Canton, Massachusetts, Boston police officer John O'Keefe was found dead in January 2022, leading to girlfriend Karen Read being charged with his murder. After a mistrial in 2024, Read was acquitted of the murder charge in a retrial in 2025, amidst allegations of a potential cover-up by law enforcement. The case has sparked significant public interest and debate regarding the integrity of the investigation.
NFL star Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots was convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd in 2015 and sentenced to life without parole. He was later acquitted of a separate double murder. Hernandez died by suicide in prison in 2017.
On April 15, 2013, brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev detonated two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring over 260. Tamerlan was killed in a shootout with police. Dzhokhar was captured after a massive manhunt and sentenced to death in 2015.
On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were axed to death in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. Their daughter Lizzie was charged with the double murder but was acquitted in 1893 after a trial that captivated Victorian America. The case has never been officially solved.