The Teen Killer’s Pact
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
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
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
John McCabe
John McCabe was a 15-year-old boy who was murdered in 1969. He was a popular student at his high school and was well-liked by his classmates. He was also an active member of his community and was involved in several extracurricular activities. John's murder shocked the community and his death remains a mystery to this day.
Walter Shelley
Walter Shelley was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of John McCabe. He was 17 years old at the time of the murder and was a friend of Mike Ferreira. Shelley was sentenced to life in prison. He has been in prison ever since.
Mike Ferreira
Mike Ferreira was acquitted of murder in the death of John McCabe. He was 17 years old at the time of the murder and was a friend of Walter Shelley. Ferreira was accused of being involved in the murder, but he denied any involvement. He was acquitted of all charges.
Edward Alan Brown
Edward Alan Brown was a witness in the trial of Mike Ferreira. He confessed to being present when Ferreira and Walter Shelley killed John McCabe. Brown said that he had been pressured by the police to confess to the crime. He was not charged with any crime.
Marla Scheiner
Marla Scheiner was the girlfriend of Walter Shelley at the time of John McCabe's murder. She was 12 years old at the time. Brown claimed that Shelley was jealous of John because he was flirting with Marla. However, Marla denied that John had ever flirted with her. She also denied that she was dating Shelley at the time of the murder.
Detective Linda Coughlin
Detective Linda Coughlin was the lead investigator in the John McCabe murder case. She was assigned to the case in 2011. Coughlin interrogated Edward Alan Brown and he confessed to being present when Shelley and Ferreira killed John. Coughlin was instrumental in bringing the case to trial.
Jerry Leoni
Jerry Leoni was the Middlesex County District Attorney at the time of the John McCabe murder trial. He was sworn in as DA in 2007. Leoni was responsible for overseeing the prosecution of Walter Shelley and Mike Ferreira.
Evelyn McCabe
Evelyn McCabe was the mother of John McCabe. She was a pillar of strength for her family during the long investigation into her son's murder. She was determined to see justice for her son and she never gave up hope that the killers would be caught. She died four days after Ferreira's acquittal.
Bill McCabe
Bill McCabe was the father of John McCabe. He was a tireless advocate for his son and he never gave up hope that the killers would be caught. He died four days after Ferreira's acquittal.
Tukesbury, Massachusetts
Tukesbury, Massachusetts is a small town where John McCabe was murdered. The town was shocked by the murder and the case became a major news story. The town was also the site of the trials of Walter Shelley and Mike Ferreira.
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
A 15-year-old boy goes to a dance and never returns. Teen killers keep a secret for 40 years -- until one of them cracks. Richard Schlesinger investigates.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
That family got half justice.
How does your co-defendant get acquitted? But you get f*****, isn't that the same case? Same evidence, bullshit They should have convicted the first guy