Massachusetts man held without bail, accused of murdering former employee, Mitchell Burke

WORCESTER – A Worcester County Grand Jury has handed up a murder indictment against a 32-year-old Worcester man in connection with the death of a man found deceased in Hubbardston, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr.

Ryan Wilcox was arraigned on July 7, 2025, in Worcester County Superior Court on one count of murder in the death of Mitchell Burke of Worcester. He was held without bail. The next court date is on August 27, 2025.

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, just before 10 a.m., Hubbardston Police responded to the report of a body discovered in the woods off Brigham Street in Hubbardston. Hubbardston Police and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office began investigating.

Wilcox was initially arraigned on January 6, 2025, in Worcester Central District Court on one count each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, and armed assault with intent to murder and had been held without bail since his arraignment.

According to NBC 10 Boston, investigators spoke to Wilcox who allegedly said he hit Burke, a former employee, with a metal baseball bat multiple times, including on his head, days before Burke was found deceased.