Jazz drummer, 22, 'beat his mother, grandparents and their caretaker to death in their family home then walked to his neighbors naked and covered in blood to confess'
Orion Krause, from Groton, was charged with four murder on Saturday. The police called the crime a 'tragic incident of family violence'
A 22-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged with murdering his mother, his grandparents and their caretaker in a horrifying attack at their family home.
Jazz drummer and recent college graduate Orion Krause from Groton allegedly beat his family members to death in what the police has described as a 'tragic incident of family violence.'
While the names of the four victims have not officially been released, the Portland Press Herald spoke to Krause's family friend Sherman Stanley who revealed the relationship of those killed.
Police responded to a call to 80 Common St on Friday evening where they found the four victims.
Among them was Elizabeth 'Buffy' Krause, Orion's mother, according to reports.
Three bodies were found inside the property and one was discovered outside.
The victims died from blunt force trauma according to preliminary investigations. Police have recovered the weapon but have not revealed what it is at this point.
The Boston Globe reported a completely naked young man caked in mud and with blood on his came to one of the neighbors' doors to ask for help.
The young man confessed that he murdered four people and asked for sleeping pills.
Walter and Thelka Alcocer called the police who identified the young man as Krause.
They covered him a sheet and were seen holding him upright as they put him into the police car.
Alcocer told The Associated Press that the suspect's eyes were 'very red' and he had cuts on his body and blood above his eye and knee but was unarmed and seemed vulnerable.
'He looked like a nice kid who needed help, he was skinny (and) tall. I thought he was the victim of the prank, or in an accident or had a mental health problem. He wasn't bleeding profusely or anything,' Alcocer said.
Alcocer, who had never seen Krause until that night, had thought the alleged confession was 'just crazy talk.' It wasn't until Krause was later taken away in an ambulance that a detective confirmed to Alcocer that the killings had taken place, Alcocer said.
Police have not indicated if he was on drugs at this point.
At Camden Hills Regional High School, Orion was known playing drums in the jazz band and received National Medal of Arts in 2009.
He went on to study music at Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College in Ohio and graduated in May.
College President Carmen Ambar and the Dean of the Conservatory Andrea Kalyn said in an email to the Lowell Sun: 'We recognize that this news may be difficult to process and we encourage those personally touched by this news to seek any support you need.'
'We are offering many layers of support to current students, faculty, and staff on campus who are dealing with this tragic news.'
In 2014, he was a drummer for the band Mostly Brothers & Company.
Krause's acquaintances told local sources he was 'gentle' and said they were shocked to learn he was charged with the murders.
He has no criminal record and police also have not released the motive for the murders.
A community vigil for the four victims was held on Sunday in Groton.
Orion Krause was seen covered in a white sheet because he was naked as officer appeared to hold him upright as they led him into the police car
Krause told his neighbor that he killed four people and then asked them for sleeping pills
Krause studied music at Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College in Ohio and graduated in May
Read more:
- Orion Krause, 22, was charged with four murders in what police called a 'tragic incident of family violence' in Groton, Massachusetts
- A family friend told a local paper the four victims are his mother, his grandparents and their caretaker
- Police responded to a call Friday after Krause told his neighbor he killed four people
- He showed up to his neighbor's home completely naked, caked in mud and with blood on his face
- Krause graduated in May after studying music at Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College in Ohio
Orion Krause, from Groton, was charged with four murder on Saturday. The police called the crime a 'tragic incident of family violence'
A 22-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged with murdering his mother, his grandparents and their caretaker in a horrifying attack at their family home.
Jazz drummer and recent college graduate Orion Krause from Groton allegedly beat his family members to death in what the police has described as a 'tragic incident of family violence.'
While the names of the four victims have not officially been released, the Portland Press Herald spoke to Krause's family friend Sherman Stanley who revealed the relationship of those killed.
Police responded to a call to 80 Common St on Friday evening where they found the four victims.
Among them was Elizabeth 'Buffy' Krause, Orion's mother, according to reports.
Three bodies were found inside the property and one was discovered outside.
The victims died from blunt force trauma according to preliminary investigations. Police have recovered the weapon but have not revealed what it is at this point.
The Boston Globe reported a completely naked young man caked in mud and with blood on his came to one of the neighbors' doors to ask for help.
The young man confessed that he murdered four people and asked for sleeping pills.
Walter and Thelka Alcocer called the police who identified the young man as Krause.
They covered him a sheet and were seen holding him upright as they put him into the police car.
Alcocer told The Associated Press that the suspect's eyes were 'very red' and he had cuts on his body and blood above his eye and knee but was unarmed and seemed vulnerable.
'He looked like a nice kid who needed help, he was skinny (and) tall. I thought he was the victim of the prank, or in an accident or had a mental health problem. He wasn't bleeding profusely or anything,' Alcocer said.
Alcocer, who had never seen Krause until that night, had thought the alleged confession was 'just crazy talk.' It wasn't until Krause was later taken away in an ambulance that a detective confirmed to Alcocer that the killings had taken place, Alcocer said.
Police have not indicated if he was on drugs at this point.
At Camden Hills Regional High School, Orion was known playing drums in the jazz band and received National Medal of Arts in 2009.
He went on to study music at Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College in Ohio and graduated in May.
College President Carmen Ambar and the Dean of the Conservatory Andrea Kalyn said in an email to the Lowell Sun: 'We recognize that this news may be difficult to process and we encourage those personally touched by this news to seek any support you need.'
'We are offering many layers of support to current students, faculty, and staff on campus who are dealing with this tragic news.'
In 2014, he was a drummer for the band Mostly Brothers & Company.
Krause's acquaintances told local sources he was 'gentle' and said they were shocked to learn he was charged with the murders.
He has no criminal record and police also have not released the motive for the murders.
A community vigil for the four victims was held on Sunday in Groton.
Orion Krause was seen covered in a white sheet because he was naked as officer appeared to hold him upright as they led him into the police car
Krause told his neighbor that he killed four people and then asked them for sleeping pills
Krause studied music at Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College in Ohio and graduated in May
Read more:
- Family friend says Rockport suspect's mother, her parents, caretaker were slain - Portland Press Herald
- ‘I murdered four people.’ A stranger at the door, a terrible crime - The Boston Globe
- Friends stunned that talented musician charged in Groton slayings - Lowell Sun Online
