A grand jury in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, has indicted a 17-year-old boy, Eric Sweeney, on charges of first-degree murder. The charges are related to the deaths of his sister-in-law, Kassandra Sweeney, 25, and her two sons, Benjamin and Mason, aged 4 and 1, respectively. The indictment was announced by State Attorney General John M. Formella.
In addition to the murder charges, Eric Sweeney is also facing charges for falsifying physical evidence. He is suspected of disposing of or destroying a Taurus .40 caliber handgun, which is believed to have been used in the killings.
The tragic event took place on August 3, 2022, in Northfield, a town about 20 miles north of Concord. Police were called to a residence where they found the bodies of the three victims, each with a single gunshot wound. A medical examination later confirmed the deaths as homicides.
Eric Sweeney’s arrest was announced by the Attorney General’s office and local law enforcement eight days after the murders. However, his identity was initially withheld due to his age. At the time of the alleged killings, Sweeney had just turned 16. The motive behind the murders has not been disclosed.
In a disturbing development leading up to the murders, Sean Sweeney, Kassandra’s husband and father to Benjamin and Mason, had expressed concerns for his family’s safety. He had found weapons in his garage and nearby woods just 12 days before the killings. Sean had contacted the police twice in the months leading up to the murders, reporting issues with an individual close to the family. The identity of the individual was not disclosed in the police logs.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoffrey Ward praised Sean Sweeney for his cooperation following the shootings, acknowledging his deep distress.
In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was set up by a family member, Alizabeth Dawson, to help cover memorial costs and living expenses. The campaign has raised over $50,000. Dawson described the day of the murders as the day her family “received some of the worst and most devastating news imaginable.”
The Boston Globe reported that the indictment was issued on September 13, and Eric Sweeney is scheduled to appear in court on November 3.