Press Release  Lynn Man Convicted of Murdering Mother and Grandmother

Salem, Massachusetts — An Essex County Superior Court jury today found a Lynn man guilty of murdering his mother and grandmother.  Judge Howard Whitehead imposed two life sentences without parole to be served consecutively.

Joseph Wright, 25, of 94 Sheridan Street, Lynn was convicted of murdering his mother, Donna Breau, 54, and his grandmother, Melba Trahant, 83, also of 94 Sheridan Street on April 30, 2012.

Essex Assistant District Attorneys Michael Patten and Jean Curran proved that on April 30, 2012, Wright slashed the throats of his mother and grandmother and dumped their bodies behind the Lynnhurst Elementary School in Saugus.   Wright then drove in his grandmother’s 1996 Toyota Corolla to Canada.  When Wright arrived at the Canadian border entry point in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada Border Services officials directed him to a secondary screening area at which point he fled.  He was subsequently apprehended by Canadian law enforcement officials and returned to Massachusetts.

“This is a just verdict and sentence,” said District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.  “This was a brutal and senseless slaying of two women in their own home by their own son and grandson.”

ADA Patten praised the work of Massachusetts State Police Troopers Barry Brodette (retired) and Tony Schena and Lynn Police Officer Tim Ferrari for their work on the investigation as well as Essex Victim Advocate Jennifer Anderson.

Wright was represented by Attorney John Morris.

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