Episode 182: James Purrington

Come on a journey 200 years in the past as Katie and Liz explore another historic tragedy on this week’s episode of True Crime New England. In the very first years of the 19th century, Captain James Purrington moved his wife and eight children to start anew on a small farm in Augusta, Maine. James was generally well-respected in the community, known to be hard-working and honest, especially as the appointed captain of the Bowdoinham militia. So imagine the surprise of the community when one fateful July night in 1806, James’ 17-year-old son knocks on the door of his neighbor’s home, covered in blood, telling the tale of a massacre at his home. Tune in to hear the details of the familicide and the theories that come along with all of the unknown.

Join Katie and Liz on this week’s episode of True Crime New England where they tackle another harrowing exoneration case. In May of 1991, a man named Kenneth McLean was shot and killed in Roxbury, Massachusetts, supposedly after a drug deal went wrong. A teenage witness, who admitted he didn’t see the face of the shooter, only a notable ponytail, later identified Robert Foxworth as the killer. He was subsequently tried alongside two other men, who he did not even know, who were said to have been present at the shooting. Unfortunately, due to some withheld evidence and a violation of Foxworth’s Sixth Amendment right, he was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder. What followed was nearly 30 years of legal battles, in which Robert Foxworth fought hard for his freedom, claiming innocence the entire time.

Join Katie and Liz on another episode of True Crime New England's case profile mini-episode series. This week, Katie starts us off with a mysterious story about the discovery of a John Doe out of Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1987. The body had clearly been a victim of homicide and was then weighed down with cables and barbell weights in Stump Pond. Then, Liz ends the episode with the story of two best friends who were shot and killed almost exactly five years apart in similar circumstances. Both cases remain unsolved.Anyone with any information on the murder of the Smithfield John Doe is asked to please call Captain Michael Rheaume at 401-231-2500 or by calling (617) 343-5837. Anyone with any information on the murder of Jericho Scott and/or Kaymar Tanner is asked to please call detectives at 203-946-6306.

On this week’s episode of True Crime New England, Katie and Liz bring you the tragic story of the murder of 13-year-old Maryann Measles, a seventh grader who lived in New Milford, Connecticut in 1997. Maryann had found herself inside a group of eight older people, fitting into their friend circle by smoking cigarettes and weed, amongst other things. After going to her mother to confide in her about having sexual relations with two of the older men in the group, she planned on filing two statutory rape charges. When word got around that she did this, the eight friends made a plot to silence the teenager- permanently. Tune in to hear the details of the crime and the downfall of all eight villains in this story.

On this week’s episode of True Crime New England, Katie and Liz tell listeners of the devastating murder of 19-year-old Lizzi Marriott. In October of 2012, the University of New Hampshire marine biology student went to hang out with her work friend, Kat McDonough, at her Dover, New Hampshire apartment. What she didn’t know was that she was being set up for a sexual encounter with Kat and her domineering boyfriend, Seth Mazzaglia. The couple essentially presented their BDSM fetish to Lizzi, who denied all advances, and was strangled as a result. Her body was dumped off of Peirce Island in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and has not been found to this day. Tune in to the hear the details of Lizzi’s murder and the trial that sent her killer away for life. 

Join Katie and Liz for another mini-episode in their case profile series. This week, Liz starts the show off with the senseless murder of 24-year-old Quaaneiruh Goodwin, a mother of an infant who was shot in a drive-by while hanging outside a convenience store with friends in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Then, Katie shares the confusing and heartbreaking death of Brenda Lee Sawls, a woman whose death was not shared with her family for several days after she was found dead in a male friend's bed in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While Brenda's case was declared a natural death, her family is not convinced due to the bumbling nature of the investigation.If you have any information about Quaaneiruh’s murder, please contact Boston Police Crimestoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS.

Take a trip to Sheffield, Vermont with Katie and Liz on this week’s episode of True Crime New England as they discuss the tragic fate of well-loved grandmother of nine, 78-year-old Mary “Pat” O’Hagan. In September of 2010, a group of three men decided they were going to break in and rob Mary’s home for money and pills. Richard Fletcher, Keith Baird, and Michael Norrie were high on methamphetamines when they came up with this plan, and ultimately agreed that no harm would be done to the victim. Unfortunately, Norrie shot Mary in the back of the head, and the three men disposed of her body, only for it to be found nearly a month later. Tune in to hear the details of their individual trials and their ultimate punishments. 

On this week’s episode of True Crime New England, Katie and Liz talk about the tragic murder of 23-year-old Lindsay Ann Burke. Described as carefree, kind, and compassionate, Lindsay had lived a life full of love and trust, with no real knowledge that there was danger in the world for people as caring as her. Unfortunately, a tumultuous relationship with a man named Gerardo Martinez led to Lindsay experiencing significant abuse, which ended with her heinous and brutal murder. Luckily, thanks to a failed suicide attempt in which he also left a note and video confessing to the crimes, Martinez was found guilty of Lindsay’s murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Check out the website Lindsay's family made, dedicated to preventing tragedies like this one from happening again: Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund – Supporting the prevention of relationship violence

Join Katie and Liz on another installment of their case profile mini-episode series! This week, the girls discuss two very frustrating cases with little answers. First, Katie talks about the mysterious and horrible death of Lauren Smith Fields, a beautiful 23-year-old who was found dead by a Bumble date in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 2021. Then, Liz talks about the 2008 shooting death of security guard James Angelo, who was working at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine. Anyone with any information that could help solve the murder of James Angelo should please call Detective Hagerty at 207-874-8602 or Detective Townsend at 207-874-8606.

Join Katie and Liz on this week’s episode of True Crime New England, where they talk about the very mysterious death of 53-year-old Denise Scott Ramsey out of Casco, Maine. Denise had last been heard from on December 26th, 2019 when she called her daughter to talk about the holidays. What ensued was a year and a half search for answers about the whereabouts of Denise. In May of 2021, two months after the death of her father, who she had been living with, Denise’s mummified skeletal remains were discovered in the boat shed on her father’s property. Despite concerns from her daughter and siblings, the police have seemingly stopped investigating her suspicious death because her father had died. Anyone with any information on the murder of Denise Ramsey is asked to please call Maine State Police at (207) 973-3700.