Massachusetts foster parent convicted of raping foster child in her care

Friday, a Worcester County Superior Court jury found a Massachusetts woman guilty of raping a 12-year-old child, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr.

52-year-old Heather Wright-Craft of Charlton was found guilty of one count of rape of a child, aggravated by age difference, and one count of rape of a child, aggravated by being a mandated reporter. The jury also found her not guilty of one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

After the verdict, Wright-Craft’s bail was revoked, and she was taken into custody.

Early states that the rape occurred in 2015 in the town of Charlton while Wright-Craft was fostering the victim.

Wright-Craft was arrested and charged in Dudley District Court in August 2017 and indicted in Worcester Superior Court in March 2018.

“I want to thank the Charlton Police Department for their thorough investigation in this case,” said Mr. Early. “I would also like to thank Assistant District Attorney Thomas Ayres and Victim Witness Advocate Rachel Murphy for their excellent work on this case.”

Wright-Craft will be sentenced by Worcester Superior Court Judge Valerie Yarashus on October 21, 2025.