Peabody Murders: Arraignment Sheds Light On Motive

SALEM, MA – It was one of the most horrific murder scenes veteran Peabody police officers had ever seen.

On Feb. 17, police found the bodies of Mark Greenlaw, 37, and his girlfriend Jennifer O'Connor, 39, wrapped in plastic and rolled into rugs laying in the garbage-filled basement of a now condemned crack house at 19 Farm Ave.

Greenlaw was killed instantly by a shotgun blast to the face, while O'Connor was raped and her throat was slit. There was blood everywhere.

The two suspects – Wes Doughty, 39, and Michael Hebb, 45 – fled the scene, prosecutor Kate MacDougall explained in Salem Superior Court on Monday.

But before they left, they tried to burn down the house and burn evidence of the murder using a blow torch and cans of kerosene, according to MacDougall.

During his 90-minute confession to the police, Hebb explained the motive for murder.

MacDougall said Hebb got Doughty all "revved" with unsubstantiated allegations that Greenlaw was abuse, drugging or poisoning Doughty's physically disabled "uncle," who lived in the house.

"Hebb told Doughty that Greenlaw was abusing...Doughty's uncle," MacDougall said.

Hebb played on Doughty's "deep loyalty" toward his uncle, MacDougall said.

Greenlaw was also viewed as an intruder into to Hebb and Doughty's drug dealing, MacDougall said.

In court, Doughty was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to charges of: first-degree murder (two counts), rape, attempted arson carjacking kidnapping and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Hebb is currently held without bail on two counts of assessor after murder and attempted arson.

But the judge will reconsider Hebb's no-bail status if his family can post $60,000 cash bail and ensure he will remain on 24-hour house arrest in a home approved by the judge

Both men are scheduled to return to court on July 11.

As Doughty and Hebb were fleeing the scene, police began a murder investigation and a multi- state manhunt.

After splitting up, Doughty allegedly carjacked 64-year-old Kenneth Metz at knifepoint in Middleton on Feb. 22, forcing him to drive around for hours, before finally abandoning the man and his car in Boston.

Afterward, Metz told the media that Doughty said the murders were due to the couple giving heroin to his godfather. Doughty allegedly confessed to the murders, Metz said.

Doughty drove Metz's car 1,000 miles to South Carolina, where he was arrested in Spartanburg County for panhandling. His name was checked and the Massachusetts' murder warrants showed up.

The Salem News reports that court documents show Doughty had a troubled childhood with drinking and smoking marijuana by junior high school. He tried an outpatient stint at rehab after a 1996 robbery arrest, but drugs remained his demon.

Before this incident, Hebb didn't have much of a criminal record.

As for the victims, 37-year-old worked Greenlaw worked in construction. His body was covered in tattoos, most notably the phrase "White Power"was inked across his chest, below a Celtic knot, according to court documents.

The parents of Jennifer O'Connor have told the media that their daughter had a good heart and struggled with drug addiction. The 40-year-old reportedly suffered health problems throughout her life, including leukemia at age 5, a stroke at 15, and a decade ago she was in a coma for a week due to a flesh-eating bacteria, CBS Boston reports. Her problems with drugs and alcohol began after she was prescribed narcotics following medical treatment.

Patch.com file photo of the house at 19 Farm Ave. Peabody (top), Wes Doughty (left) and Michael Hebb (right).

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