Duxbury man held without bail after allegedly murdering father after seeing “demon” in his eyes

PLYMOUTH – A Duxbury man has pleaded not guilty to a Murder charge in connection with a fatal water incident in that town, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

At approximately 2 a.m. yesterday, Duxbury Police received a call to report that the defendant, Jack Callahan, 19, was acting erratically and his father, Scott Callahan, 57, was missing in the area of Crocker Park and Island Creek Pond. Duxbury Police responded to the Sampson Street residence and found Jack Callahan distraught and hyperventilating.

At approximately the same time, Duxbury Police and Fire personnel responded to Island Creek Pond at Crocker Park and located Scott Callahan submerged in the pond. EMS performed life-saving measures and he was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, where he was pronounced dead.

Duxbury Police contacted Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and an investigation began.

As a result of the investigation, Massachusetts State Police and Duxbury Police determined that on Sunday night, Jack Callahan travelled to Boston to meet up and retrieve his father and return to Duxbury. The two took a ride-share vehicle home from Boston and at after midnight on June 28, the rideshare dropped the two men off in the vicinity of Crocker Park at Island Creek Pond where a physical altercation took place between the father and son. Jack Callahan allegedly began submerging his father under the water several times claiming he was “baptizing” his father because he saw the “demon” in his eyes. Jack continued to submerge his father’s head until Scott Callahan no longer fought back or floated.

Yesterday morning, Massachusetts State Police placed Jack Callahan under arrest. Callahan was arraigned today in Plymouth District Court on one count of Murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was held without bail.

The cause and manner of death is pending with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Preliminarily, the OCME reported that Scott Callahan had water-logged lungs, petechiae of the eyes and an abrasion on his head.

Jack Callahan is next scheduled to appear in court on August 12.