Massachusetts man convicted of killing girlfriend who he convinced to plead the 5th

TEWKSBURY— Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Tewksbury Chief of Police Ryan Columbus have announced that Eric Griffin, 43 of Tewksbury, has been convicted of first-degree murder, strangulation, two counts of domestic assault and battery and battery and intimidation of a witness in connection with the September 15, 2019, murder of his girlfriend Jennifer Kalicki, 39 of Tewksbury.

A Middlesex Superior Court Jury returned the verdict on July 12, 2023. Griffin will be sentenced on July 27 at 2:00 p.m.

“Yesterday, Eric Griffin was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend Jennifer Kalicki. This verdict signifies our commitment to holding perpetrators of domestic violence accountable and exemplifies the good work of the team of prosecutors and police who spent weeks investigating this case in the Grand Jury and who dedicated themselves to gathering additional evidence that demonstrated the pattern of violence being inflicted upon the victim. This type of controlling behavior is far too common in these cases and calls greater attention to the need for addressing this public safety and public health risk,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan.

On September 15, 2019, at approximately 8:30 a.m. Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office were contacted by Tewksbury Police regarding a suspicious death that occurred in an apartment complex on Archstone Avenue in Tewksbury. Upon arrival, authorities observed Kalicki, who resided with the defendant, unresponsive in bed. She had sustained significant injuries consistent with a physical assault and was pronounced dead at the scene. Kalicki’s boyfriend, Eric Griffin, was placed under arrest later that day and charged with assault and battery on a household or family member. The case was referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner who subsequently ruled that the cause of Kalicki’s death was blunt force trauma. The examination found that Kalicki had sustained injuries to her body and neck as well as blunt force trauma to the head that resulted in a fatal brain bleed.

Over the course of the investigation into the death of Kalicki, investigators were able to gather additional information demonstrating a past history of abuse and escalating violence where Griffin abused the victim and even convinced her to assert her Fifth Amendment privilege so charges against him would be dismissed.

In December of 2019 Griffin was indicted on the charges of first-degree murder, strangulation and domestic assault and battery.

The prosecutors assigned to this case are Assistant District Attorneys Suzanne Wiseman and Maren Schrader. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.

In 2020, District Attorney Marian Ryan launched a dedicated text line for victims to provide victims with direct access to a victim witness advocate via text message. The line provides the opportunity for victims in non-emergency situations to have live interaction with an advocate in the District Attorney’s Office without having to say a word. This is a valuable tool both for individuals who may feel safer utilizing text and for young people who often prefer text to phone call. Recognizing that many victims are reaching out with questions regarding personal matters, this line provides a person-to-person connection, which can help alleviate the stress of navigating the criminal justice system.

Victims can reach an advocate during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) via text message at 781-281-4066. The line is not monitored 24/7 and is NOT an emergency line.