Mass. man convicted of killing father during baptism in pond because he saw 'demon' in his eyes

DUXBURY, Mass. (TCD) -- A jury found a 22-year-old man guilty of killing his father while performing an exorcism in a local pond in order to rid him of demons.

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday, April 25, that Jack Callahan was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of his father, Scott Callahan. The jury reached the verdict after an eight-day trial and 25 hours of deliberation. He was on trial for murder.

In the early morning hours of June 28, 2021, Duxbury Police officers went to a home on Sampson Street after someone called to say Jack Callahan, then 19, was "acting erratically" and saying Scott Callahan was missing near Island Creek Pond at Crocker Park. When police arrived at the home, they reportedly found Callahan "distraught and hyperventilating."

Duxbury Police and EMS were simultaneously responding to the pond and located Scott Callahan in the water. He was not responsive and medics transported him to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, where he was pronounced dead.

The district attorney’s office said investigators learned Callahan got a ride to Boston to pick up his father and return home. According to WHDH-TV, Callahan retrieved his dad at a bar after he left an alcohol abuse treatment center.

The ride-share dropped them off near the pond, where they got into an argument. Callahan reportedly "began submerging his father under the water several times claiming he was 'baptizing' his father because he saw the 'demon' in his eyes."

The statement said Callahan "left his father floating in the pond."

The medical examiner determined Scott Callahan had a cut on his head and water in his lungs. His cause of death was drowning and manner of death was homicide.

Callahan will be sentenced Friday, May 3.

MORE:

• Man Convicted On Involuntary Manslaughter Charge In Killing Of His Father - Plymouth County District Attorney's Office
• Duxbury Man Indicted On Murder Charge In Connection With Fatal Water Incident, 9/24/2021 - Plymouth County District Attorney's Office
• Teen accused of drowning dad in Duxbury pond in attempt to exorcise his demons indicted on murder charge, 9/28/2021 - WHDH