After investigation, two indicted, including victim’s son, in unsolved Bristol County murder

An extensive investigation into the previously unsolved July 6, 2021 homicide of 66-year-old Joseph Housley in Seekonk has resulted in the indictment of the victim’s son and another man for murder, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

A Bristol County Grand Jury on Thursday handed down indictments charging Joseph “JD” Housley II and Christopher Heron with Murder and Carrying an Illegal Firearm. Both 21-year-old defendants are from Rehoboth and are currently in custody.

The 15-month long investigation was coordinated and presented to the grand jury by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Guilderson, and was conducted with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to DA Quinn’s office, Seekonk Police and Rehoboth Police.

“I want to commend the investigators from my office, Seekonk Police, Rehoboth Police and State Police for their combined efforts in investigating this complex case,” District Attorney Quin said. “Their tireless work for the past 15 months led to this indictment. We now look forward to prosecuting this case in court.”

Both defendants have been in custody since last fall and both are due in Fall River Superior Court for pretrial hearings on their respective cases on October 18th. It is likely both defendants will be arraigned on the new indictments on that date.

At approximately 9:53 p.m. on July 6, 2021, Seekonk Police responded to 911 calls regarding possible gun shots in the area of 101 Forsyth Circle. When first responders arrived on scene, they located 66-year-old Joseph Housley suffering from an apparent gunshot wound in an apartment at 101 Forsyth Circle. He was later pronounced deceased.

Housely is currently being detained as a dangerous person in relation to a 2021 case where he is charged in Superior Court with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute a class C drug, trafficking in excess of 50 pounds of marijuana, trafficking methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of an illegal firearm.

Defendant Heron is also currently being detained as a dangerous person in relation to a 2021 case where he is charged in Superior Court with unlawful possession of a high-capacity firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, trafficking a class B drug, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute a class C drug.

“I would like to thank DA Quinn, Assistant District Attorney Guilderson, the Massachusetts State Police nit assigned o the DA’s office, and the Rehoboth and Seekonk Police Detectives Divisions for their relentless pursuit of justice for the victim of this heinous crime and his family,” Seekonk Police Chief Dean Isabella said.