A police manhunt is on for a 27-year-old man wanted for allegedly killing an elderly couple in their Marshfield, Massachusetts, home, authorities said Wednesday.
Police issued a be-on-the-lookout alert for Christopher Keeley, who is considered armed and dangerous. An arrest warrant charging him with homicide was issued out of Plymouth District Court Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Carl and Vicki Mattson, a couple in their 70s, were found stabbed and bludgeoned to death in their home Tuesday night, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said. Authorities are working to determine when they were killed.
Keeley was acquainted with the couple, Cruz said, although he would not specify their relationship. Prosecutors believe the attack was targeted and not random.
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Marshfield police responded to Gotham Hill Drive after 9 p.m. Tuesday for a wellbeing check, where they found the bodies of the married couple with "obvious signs of trauma," Cruz said.
"The case is ongoing right now," Cruz said. "It's in its investigatory status. The individual we're looking for right now, we consider him armed and dangerous. We do not consider him to be in the area right now. We will be working hard to locate him and arrest him."
Keeley may have changed his appearance, possibly dying his hair red, according to Marshfield Police Chief Phillip Tavares. Keeley also goes by the nickname "Crispy."
"If you have any idea where he may be, please call 911 and report it to us," Tavares said.
He was last known to be driving a 2019 black Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, with Massachusetts plates 7490HT. The vehicle was taken from the scene and found Wednesday afternoon without Keeley or anyone else inside, officials said.
The medical examiner was working to determine an official cause of death for the victims.
"The Massachusetts State Police is working very closely with the Marshfield Police Department, the Plymouth District Attorney's Office," Massachusetts State Police Col. Christopher Mason said. "We have considerable resources we're bringing to bear on this investigation."
State police remained on Gotham Hill Drive Wednesday morning, processing the scene for forensic evidence. A number of state police investigators have been assigned to the case and are working on leads, Mason said.
A lawyer representing the Keeley family issued the following statement:
"At approximately 6:30am on Wednesday November 30, 2022 the family of Christopher Keeley was notified that the Massachusetts state police were looking to question Christopher in relation to a situation in Marshfield. The Mass State Police have been given the full cooperation of Mr. Keeley's family. The events that are alleged to have occurred are shocking and truly devastating to all involved. Our hearts go out to the entire Mattson family for their loss. At this point in time, the Keeley family respectfully requests that members of the media please respect their privacy as they begin to process this sense less tragedy."