Statement on Groton Quadruple Homicide

GROTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Groton Chief of Police Donald Palma Jr. have confirmed that a homicide investigation into the deaths of four individuals at a residence on Common Street in Groton is underway. A suspect, a 22-year-old male, is  in custody in connection with this incident and has been identified as Orion Krause. Krause will be charged with four counts of murder.

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.