This 29-year-old man acquired over one million followers on Twitter just by posting comments made by his 74-year-old father. You’ll laugh your head off, I guarantee.
Students Grieve for Classmate; Police say Teen Was Killed by Father in Murder-Suicide
Jody Marchand, mother of Olivia
Mother Remains Hospitalized in Critical Condition
Jody Marchand, mother of Olivia
by Joyce Pellino Crane
WESTFORD, MASS. – The day after a Westford Academy student was fatally shot by her father with a 9 mm. handgun, according to police, dozens of students gathered inside the public high school’s auditorium to handwrite their sorrow on rolls of paper stretched across the stage.
About 70 seniors gathered this afternoon to grieve collectively for Olivia Marchand, a popular high school senior who was planning to attend the University of Vermont in the fall as a freshman.
Instead she was found dead at 8:37 p.m. yesterday inside her parent’s master bedroom on Makepeace Road from a gunshot wound, the victim of a murder-suicide, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone. Leone said her father, Brian Marchand, 59 shot and killed his 17-year-old daughter, and shot his wife, Jody Marchand, 50, who was med-flighted to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester where she remains in critical condition.
Sphere: Related ContentTwo Dead in Westford, Third Air-lifted to Hospital
Serene Community Again Rocked by Apparent Violence
Westford, MA – Two people in a Makepeace Road home died tonight and a third was airlifted to the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, according to Westford Police Captain Joseph Roy. The incident occurred at 8:37 p.m. Roy did not identify the victims pending notification of next of kin and would not specify a cause of death.
Regional broadcast media reported that the fatalities were due to gunshot wounds.
The incident remains under investigation, Roy said.
Until recently, violent crimes in this pastoral community were rare. But on January 9, Frederick Leduc of Forge Village Road allegedly shot his wife Karen and sustained a gunshot wound under his chin. Karen Leduc died a few days later and Leduc was charged with first degree murder while recuperating at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
JOYCE PELLINO CRANE
Scott Brown Steals Mass. Senate Seat
Stunning Race Outcome Sends Republican to D.C.
Martha Coakley’s stunning upset to Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race tonight is not about dissatisfaction with the economy and the Obama Administration. It’s about a talented but bland candidate who stacked up less favorably in comparison to her charismatic male opponent.
Whether you’re the engaging Sarah Palin or the pragmatic Hillary Clinton, if you’re a female, you’ll face vicious critics. Coakley’s regional bid didn’t generate the same level of nastiness that the two national female candidates experienced during the 2008 Presidential campaign but only because the timeline was short and took place over the Christmas holiday when many were distracted, leaving less time for scrutiny. But make no mistake, Coakley lost votes because of her gender and because we still struggle with subconscious beliefs about female roles in this country.
That combined with her cool persona cost her the election.
Sphere: Related ContentEddie Brill on Letterman Yesterday
The Best Laugh of My Week: Thanks Eddie
Read my Sunday Globe interview with Eddie.
A Flap or Two Before Green was Cool
Newsday, published June 9, 2008.
By Joyce Pellino Crane
Just out of camera shot was the carousel clothesline I wrote about in this humorous Newsday essay. To my right: Dad, Mom, my sister, and brother (front).
The shouting matches started shortly after my family moved into the Dutch Colonial house across from the town’s public high school.
Mrs. Gibson, a widowed socialite with a butler, a poodle, and a two-toned Cadillac, had never expected to see a family of Italians next door.
But there she was in her twilight years battling the reality of a changing society. The tony New York suburb, known for its debutantes and coming out parties (this was an era when coming out wasn’t followed by “of the closet”) was being infiltrated by the nouveau riche with last names ending in vowels. Mrs. Gibson wasn’t ready for it.
They arrived with screechy station wagons, smudge-faced kids, and religious statues on the front lawn.
She upbraided. My mother retorted. The words got nasty.
Sphere: Related ContentCalmness in Our Lives
This arrived in my inbox yesterday (with a different photo). The unknown author gave me the best laugh of my week!
Tranquility
“I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.
By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace.
Dr Phil proclaimed, “The way to achieve
inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished.”
So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn’t finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates.
You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now.
Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.
Happy New Year!”
Westford Man Charged with First Degree Murder in Wife’s Shooting
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY
15 COMMONWEALTH AVE WOBURN MA 01801
For Immediate Release Contact: Jessica Venezia
781-897-8325
Charges Upgraded In Connection With Saturday’s Shooting In Westford
Westford Man Now Charged With Murder Of Wife
WOBURN– Charges have been upgraded in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Westford, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.
Frederick Leduc, 45, of Westford, was arrested yesterday and charged with armed assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal discharge of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition in connection with the shooting of his wife, Karen Leduc, 43, of Westford. The victim, Karen Leduc, who was in critical condition since the incident, has now died and the intent to murder charges against Frederick Leduc have been upgraded to first degree murder.
Frederick Leduc remains hospitalized and a bedside arraignment on these charges will occur today at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston at 2pm.
According to authorities, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 48 Forge Village Road in Westford. Upon arrival, authorities located a male, the defendant, and a female, the victim, evidencing obvious gun shot wounds.
The defendant was life-flighted to Massachusetts General Hospital. The female victim, identified as Karen Leduc, 43, was life-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and has now died.
Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. It is alleged that the defendant purposefully shot the victim, and then intentionally shot himself after an argument.
The investigation remains ongoing.
These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.
Charges Filed In Connection With Saturday’s Shooting In Westford
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY
15 COMMONWEALTH AVE WOBURN MA 01801
For Immediate Release Contact: Jessica Venezia
January 11, 2010 781-897-8325
WOBURN– Charges have been filed in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Westford, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.
Frederick Luduc, 45, of 48 Forge Village Road in Westford, has been arrested and charged with armed assault to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition. Luduc remains hospitalized and an arraignment on these charges has not yet been scheduled.
According to authorities, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 48 Forge Village Road in Westford. Upon arrival, authorities located a male, the defendant, and a female, the victim, evidencing obvious gun shot wounds.
“This is a troubling case where we allege that Frederick Luduc shot the victim, who remains in very critical condition,” District Attorney Leone said. “We continue to develop the facts of the investigation and additional details will be released at the time of the defendant’s arraignment.”
The defendant was life-flighted to Massachusetts General Hospital where he remains in stable condition. The female victim, identified as Karen Luduc, 43, was life-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and remains in critical condition.
Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. It is alleged that the defendant shot the victim and then shot himself.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.
