Devyn J. Murphy Unsolved Murder 2002
On October 13, 2002 Devyn J. Murphy (16) was stabbed to death at 4 Weaver Street in Onset. There was an altercation outside the residence during a party. He was stabbed once in the abdomen by another male at about 1:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead at Tobey Hospital five hours later.
The party was attended by approximately 30 people when an altercation took place. Not one person who attended the house party, or witnessed the altercation have come forward with any information. Authorities said unwelcome party-goers from neighboring Town of Bourne might have caused the deadly altercation.
It is strongly believed that there are several people that may know who killed the teen, but either are afraid or refuse to come forward.
On October 13, 2002 Devyn J. Murphy (16) was stabbed to death at 4 Weaver Street in Onset. There was an altercation outside the residence during a party. He was stabbed once in the abdomen by another male at about 1:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead at Tobey Hospital five hours later.
The party was attended by approximately 30 people when an altercation took place. Not one person who attended the house party, or witnessed the altercation have come forward with any information. Authorities said unwelcome party-goers from neighboring Town of Bourne might have caused the deadly altercation.
It is strongly believed that there are several people that may know who killed the teen, but either are afraid or refuse to come forward.
Ruth McGurk Unsolved Murder 1946
Ruth McGurk (25), from Cambridge, was a frequent visitor in Onset for several years. Ruth was recently engaged to Arthur Doucette.
On July 27 1946 Ruth along with her friends Helen Leary and Ruth Jefferson arrived in Onset by train from Boston. They booked a room at West Central Avenue rooming house, had lunch and went to the beach. Later that night the group went to the Colonial Casino, better known as the Onset Casino to dance. The Onset Casino was located at Onset Avenue and 10th Street. In 1963 The Onset Casino was destroyed by fire.
Just after 10 p.m. Ruth approached her friends and told them she was going out with "Frank", the gentleman she had been dancing with. Ruth told the friends "Frank" was from Onset and she didn't expect to be out late.
She expected to go for ice cream, since she didn't drink alcohol. The friends described "Frank" as being short, possibly 5'2 140 pounds and between the age of 25-30.
On July 28 1946 Ruth McGurk was reporting missing to the Wareham Police Department. On July 29 1946 searches were conducted through the woods in Onset and East Wareham, including Great Neck. Empty shacks, yachts, boats were checked.
Ruth's Body Discovered
On August 1 1946 John E. Laine reported to police that there was a body in the Green Lodge Reservoir (now called Gibbs Reservoir). The reservoir where the body was found lies to the east of the road leading from Route 28 to South Carver. The body of a women was floating on the surface about 20 feet from the edge of the reservoir near the road. The body was clothed, wearing a pink dress. In searching the area, a woman's handkerchief was located, which was later positively belonging to Ruth. It was clear, Ruth McGurk was the victim of a brutal assault and, apparently, put up a terrific struggle against her attacker(s)
Several of her teeth were knocked out, her body was severely bruised. Her pink dress and slip were pulled over her shoulders, appeared she had been sexually assaulted. Her engagement ring however was still on her hand. An autopsy showed she had been dead for about four days. Police guessed she was killed within hours of leaving the Colonial Casino with “Frank” and her lifeless body dumped in the reservoir.
Charles R. Goodale
Charles Russell Goodale (25) lived on Onset Avenue just a few hundred yards from the Onset Casino. Charles was previously charged with assault on a female from Lowell which allegedly occurred after a dance. The assault charge were later dropped. Charles was employed with a local cranberry company at the nearby bogs since May 1946. He pleaded not guilty in the assault case, but came under investigation for Ruth's murder.
Charles, when questioned, admitted being at the Onset Casino the night Ruth went missing, but said he never met her. Instead Charles claimed he met another woman and they left together around 10:15 p.m. He couldn't recall her name.
Charles stated they stopped at two (2) Buzzards Bay locations, Tiny' Jim's which was crowded so they left. They went to King Midas Restaurant where they each had an alcohol drink. Charles then dropped her off back in Onset and arrived home around midnight.
On August 18 1946 Charles Russell Goodale was arrested for reasonable suspicion in connection to the murder of Ruth McGurk.
Charles R. Goodale Trial
Charles was held for ten (10) months awaiting trial. The trial began on mid-May 1947 and last for fifteen (15) days.
Charles took the stand in his own defense and denied killing Ruth McGurk.
Helen Leary and Ruth Jefferson both identified Charles as "Frank" during the trial. There was testimony by witnesses that Charles had been seen at the two (2) stops in Buzzards Bay the night of the murder.
Massachusetts State Police chemist also testified that three strands of hair taken from Mr. Goodale’s car were similar to Ruth's. This was before DNA technology and the prosecution’s expert witness had to acknowledge the hairs could have come from any one of thousands of women. On May 30 1947 Charles Russell Goodale was found not guilty by the jury. Charles left Onset and moved to Florida after the trial.
On December 28, 2009 Charles Russell Goodale died, and was interred in the Florida National Cemetery.
Ruth McGurk (25), from Cambridge, was a frequent visitor in Onset for several years. Ruth was recently engaged to Arthur Doucette.
On July 27 1946 Ruth along with her friends Helen Leary and Ruth Jefferson arrived in Onset by train from Boston. They booked a room at West Central Avenue rooming house, had lunch and went to the beach. Later that night the group went to the Colonial Casino, better known as the Onset Casino to dance. The Onset Casino was located at Onset Avenue and 10th Street. In 1963 The Onset Casino was destroyed by fire.
Just after 10 p.m. Ruth approached her friends and told them she was going out with "Frank", the gentleman she had been dancing with. Ruth told the friends "Frank" was from Onset and she didn't expect to be out late.
She expected to go for ice cream, since she didn't drink alcohol. The friends described "Frank" as being short, possibly 5'2 140 pounds and between the age of 25-30.
On July 28 1946 Ruth McGurk was reporting missing to the Wareham Police Department. On July 29 1946 searches were conducted through the woods in Onset and East Wareham, including Great Neck. Empty shacks, yachts, boats were checked.
Ruth's Body Discovered
On August 1 1946 John E. Laine reported to police that there was a body in the Green Lodge Reservoir (now called Gibbs Reservoir). The reservoir where the body was found lies to the east of the road leading from Route 28 to South Carver. The body of a women was floating on the surface about 20 feet from the edge of the reservoir near the road. The body was clothed, wearing a pink dress. In searching the area, a woman's handkerchief was located, which was later positively belonging to Ruth. It was clear, Ruth McGurk was the victim of a brutal assault and, apparently, put up a terrific struggle against her attacker(s)
Several of her teeth were knocked out, her body was severely bruised. Her pink dress and slip were pulled over her shoulders, appeared she had been sexually assaulted. Her engagement ring however was still on her hand. An autopsy showed she had been dead for about four days. Police guessed she was killed within hours of leaving the Colonial Casino with “Frank” and her lifeless body dumped in the reservoir.
Charles R. Goodale
Charles Russell Goodale (25) lived on Onset Avenue just a few hundred yards from the Onset Casino. Charles was previously charged with assault on a female from Lowell which allegedly occurred after a dance. The assault charge were later dropped. Charles was employed with a local cranberry company at the nearby bogs since May 1946. He pleaded not guilty in the assault case, but came under investigation for Ruth's murder.
Charles, when questioned, admitted being at the Onset Casino the night Ruth went missing, but said he never met her. Instead Charles claimed he met another woman and they left together around 10:15 p.m. He couldn't recall her name.
Charles stated they stopped at two (2) Buzzards Bay locations, Tiny' Jim's which was crowded so they left. They went to King Midas Restaurant where they each had an alcohol drink. Charles then dropped her off back in Onset and arrived home around midnight.
On August 18 1946 Charles Russell Goodale was arrested for reasonable suspicion in connection to the murder of Ruth McGurk.
Charles R. Goodale Trial
Charles was held for ten (10) months awaiting trial. The trial began on mid-May 1947 and last for fifteen (15) days.
Charles took the stand in his own defense and denied killing Ruth McGurk.
Helen Leary and Ruth Jefferson both identified Charles as "Frank" during the trial. There was testimony by witnesses that Charles had been seen at the two (2) stops in Buzzards Bay the night of the murder.
Massachusetts State Police chemist also testified that three strands of hair taken from Mr. Goodale’s car were similar to Ruth's. This was before DNA technology and the prosecution’s expert witness had to acknowledge the hairs could have come from any one of thousands of women. On May 30 1947 Charles Russell Goodale was found not guilty by the jury. Charles left Onset and moved to Florida after the trial.
On December 28, 2009 Charles Russell Goodale died, and was interred in the Florida National Cemetery.