Digest

This episode tells the story of John McCabe, a 15-year-old boy who was murdered in 1969, and the decades-long investigation that finally led to the conviction of one of his killers. The episode begins with the story of John's last day, when he went to a dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The next day, his body was found in a vacant lot, bound and gagged. The police investigated the case for years, but it remained unsolved. In 2000, a childhood friend of John's, Jack Ward, told Bill McCabe, John's father, that he knew who killed his son. Ward said that Mike Ferreira had told him that Walter Shelley had killed John. The police investigated Ferreira and Shelley, but they were not arrested. In 2011, Detective Linda Coughlin was assigned to the case and she interrogated Edward Alan Brown, who had been a suspect in the case since 1969. Brown confessed to being present when Shelley and Ferreira killed John. Brown said that they had killed John because he had been flirting with Shelley's girlfriend, Marla Scheiner. Brown's confession led to the arrest of Shelley and Ferreira. Ferreira was acquitted of murder, but Shelley was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The episode ends with Evelyn McCabe, John's mother, reflecting on the long journey to justice for her son.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the story of John McCabe, a 15-year-old boy who was murdered in 1969, and the decades-long investigation that finally led to the conviction of one of his killers. The episode begins with the story of John's last day, when he went to a dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The next day, his body was found in a vacant lot, bound and gagged.

00:01:23

The Investigation Begins

This Chapter details the initial investigation into John McCabe's murder. The police interviewed several people, including John's friends and classmates. They also searched for evidence, but they were unable to find anything that could link a suspect to the crime.

00:15:21

A New Lead

This Chapter describes how a childhood friend of John's, Jack Ward, came forward with new information about the case. Ward told Bill McCabe, John's father, that he knew who killed his son. Ward said that Mike Ferreira had told him that Walter Shelley had killed John.

00:18:41

The Case Reopens

This Chapter explains how the police reopened the case in 2007. They interviewed Ferreira again and he mentioned a new name, Alan Brown. Brown was tracked down and he denied any involvement in the murder. However, his wife told the police that he had confessed to her years earlier.

00:20:46

A Breakthrough

This Chapter focuses on Detective Linda Coughlin, who was assigned to the case in 2011. Coughlin interrogated Brown and he confessed to being present when Shelley and Ferreira killed John. Brown said that they had killed John because he had been flirting with Shelley's girlfriend, Marla Scheiner.

00:23:01

The Trials

This Chapter covers the trials of Ferreira and Shelley. Ferreira was acquitted of murder, but Shelley was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

00:39:33

The Aftermath

This Chapter discusses the aftermath of the trials. Bill McCabe died four days after Ferreira's acquittal. Evelyn McCabe, John's mother, continued to fight for justice for her son. She was determined to honor her husband's dying wish that someone would pay for John's murder.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happened to John McCabe?

  John McCabe was murdered in 1969. He was 15 years old at the time. His body was found in a vacant lot, bound and gagged. He died of strangulation.

• Who was convicted of John McCabe's murder?

  Walter Shelley was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of John McCabe. He was sentenced to life in prison.

• Why did the police reopen the case in 2007?

  The police reopened the case in 2007 after a childhood friend of John's, Jack Ward, came forward with new information. Ward said that Mike Ferreira had told him that Walter Shelley had killed John.

• What was the motive for John McCabe's murder?

  According to Edward Alan Brown, Shelley and Ferreira killed John because he had been flirting with Shelley's girlfriend, Marla Scheiner. However, Marla denied that John had ever flirted with her.

• What happened to Mike Ferreira?

  Mike Ferreira was acquitted of murder in the death of John McCabe. The jury did not believe Edward Alan Brown's testimony.

• What happened to Edward Alan Brown?

  Edward Alan Brown confessed to being present when Shelley and Ferreira killed John McCabe. He said that he had been pressured by the police to confess. He was not charged with any crime.

• What happened to Bill McCabe?

  Bill McCabe died four days after Ferreira's acquittal. He died of a heart attack. His family believes that the stress of the trial contributed to his death.

• What happened to Evelyn McCabe?

  Evelyn McCabe, John's mother, continued to fight for justice for her son after her husband's death. She was determined to honor her husband's dying wish that someone would pay for John's murder.

• What was the impact of the case on the community?

  The case had a profound impact on the community of Tukesbury, Massachusetts. The murder of John McCabe shocked the town and the case became a major news story. The case also raised questions about the justice system and the ability of the police to solve crimes.

• What lessons can be learned from the John McCabe case?

  The John McCabe case is a reminder that justice can be slow and difficult to achieve. It also highlights the importance of perseverance and the power of a community to come together in the face of tragedy. The case also raises questions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony and the potential for police pressure to lead to false confessions.

Show Notes