A manhunt is underway in Massachusetts after a married couple was stabbed and “beaten to death in their home” in Marshfield, a town about 30 miles southeast of Boston, officials said Wednesday.
Police are looking for Christopher Kiley, 27, of Weymouth, in connection with the murders of Carl and Vicki Matson, both 70, County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said at a news conference.
“Keeley knew the Matson family,” Cruz said of the 27-year-old, who officials said also goes by the name “Crispy.”
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence. It appears to be a targeted attack,” Cruz said.
Cruz said it was still unclear when exactly the attack occurred.
Marshfield police were initially called to the Matson family’s home to conduct a welfare check around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, the district attorney’s office said in a news release Wednesday.
When they arrived, officers with the Marshfield Police Department discovered the bodies of a man and a woman who appeared to have been mutilated and stabbed.
The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office began investigating the incident after being contacted by the Marshfield Police Department. Detectives developed probable cause and identified Keeley as a person of interest in the double murder, the district attorney’s office said.
Keeley was last known to be driving a black 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The vehicle was located Wednesday afternoon without Keeley or anyone else inside, it said.
Authorities asked anyone with information about Keeley’s potential whereabouts to come forward.
The person of interest may have changed his appearance, and may have dyed his hair red, Marshfield Police Chief Philip Tavares said during a news conference Wednesday.
“If you have any idea where he could be, please call 911 and let us know,” Tavares said.
An attorney representing the Keeley family told NBC Boston in a statement that the Massachusetts State Police “has been given the full cooperation of Mr. Keeley’s family.”
“The events that allegedly took place are shocking and truly devastating for all involved,” the statement said. “Our hearts go out to the entire Mattson family on their loss.”
The State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is investigating the cause and manner of death of the victims.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
