Press Releases

Duxbury Man Indicted On Murder Charge In Connection With Fatal Water Incident

Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120

BROCKTON – A man, formerly of Norwell residing in Colorado, has been indicted and charged with the murder of his father in Duxbury, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

Today, a Plymouth County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jack Callahan, 19, with one count of Murder.

At approximately 2 a.m. on June 28, 2021 Duxbury Police received a call to report that the defendant, Jack Callahan, 19, was acting erratically and his father, Scott Callahan, 57, was missing in the area of Island Creek Pond at Crocker Park. Duxbury Police responded to the Sampson Street residence and found Jack Callahan distraught and hyperventilating. 

At approximately the same time, Duxbury Police and Fire personnel responded to Island Creek Pond at Crocker Park and located Scott Callahan submerged in the pond. EMS performed life-saving measures and he was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, where he was pronounced dead.

Duxbury Police contacted Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and an investigation commenced. Today’s indictment allege that Jack Callahan travelled to Boston to meet up and retrieve his father and return to Duxbury. The two took a ride-share vehicle home from Boston and after midnight on June 28, the ride-share dropped the two men off in the vicinity of Island Creek Pond at Crocker Park where a physical altercation took place between the father and son. Jack Callahan allegedly began submerging his father under the water several times claiming he was “baptizing” his father because he saw the “demon” in his eyes. Jack is alleged to have left his father floating in the pond.   

The cause and manner of death is pending with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Preliminarily, the OCME reported that Scott Callahan had water-logged lungs, and an abrasion on his head.

Jack Callahan has been held without bail since his arraignment. He will be arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court at a later date. 

Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Duxbury Police.

September 24, 2021