genericwhitemale
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I really wasn't sure where to post this, so if I'm doing so in the wrong area, please feel free to move it to a more appropriate sub-forum.
I'm from Boston. About 20 or so minutes south to be exact. I've lived here all my life and until recently knew very little about the Freetown State Forest or the cults that were prevalent within the Forest during the 70's and 80's. I was recently talking to someone about the random creepiness in Mass state history when they asked me if I had ever heard of the Satanic cults once active in the southeastern part of the region. I hadn't. They told me to look up Carl Drew and Robin Murphy, so I did. What I found was both interesting and disturbing.
To make a long story short Carl Drew was a pimp from a town called Fall River, MA in the late 70's who used his own rendition of Satanism to keep his stable of girls in line. He threatened extreme violence if they didn't do as they were told. Eventually by 1982 three women (Barbara Raposa, Donna Levesque, and Karen Marsden) were dead and two people were sentenced to life in prison. Drew being one and a young woman named Robin Murphy being the other. Murphy was actually paroled a few years back but violated the terms of her parole and is back in prison as of now. Drew claims to this day while he was in fact a pimp who did practice Satanism, he wasn't responsible for the three murders that Murphy pinned on him in exchange for a lighter sentence. He claims Murphy manipulated him and that she herself was responsible for the death of the three local prostitutes.
There's far too much to go into and way too many small details that deserve a closer look. But that's the fast version of what went down. Many people, including some in law enforcement, have come forward claiming they stand behind Drew as not being the ringleader of the cult or killer he was portrayed as during his trial. Murphy has since contradicted her initial testimony made during the trial in which she fingered Drew as the one responsible. Drew is trying to appeal his conviction and wants a new trial. It has yet to happen, and many say it won't despite Murphy's most recent statements contradicting her original testimony.
There was a book written about the murders and trial called "Mortal Remains" by Henry Scammell. I have yet to read it personally, and have heard it's facts are flawed. I have however read another decent book that covered the case to a much lesser extent, as well as other happenings within the Freetown State Forest, called "Dark Woods: Cults, Crime, and Paranormal in the Freetown State Forest" by Christopher Balzano. Another name that bears mentioning is James Kater. He abducted a girl from Raynham, MA and took her to a secluded area in the Freetown State Forest where he killed her, all while on parole after serving time for another crime that was eerily similar. The crimes committed by Drew and/or Murphy weren't committed in the forest themselves, but Drew's makeshift "cult" congregated there frequently for ritualistic meetings.
Anyone familiar with this case or the forest itself have anything interesting to add?
www.murderpedia.org/male.D/d/drew-carl.htm
www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131006/LIFE/310060305&template=wapart
I'm from Boston. About 20 or so minutes south to be exact. I've lived here all my life and until recently knew very little about the Freetown State Forest or the cults that were prevalent within the Forest during the 70's and 80's. I was recently talking to someone about the random creepiness in Mass state history when they asked me if I had ever heard of the Satanic cults once active in the southeastern part of the region. I hadn't. They told me to look up Carl Drew and Robin Murphy, so I did. What I found was both interesting and disturbing.
To make a long story short Carl Drew was a pimp from a town called Fall River, MA in the late 70's who used his own rendition of Satanism to keep his stable of girls in line. He threatened extreme violence if they didn't do as they were told. Eventually by 1982 three women (Barbara Raposa, Donna Levesque, and Karen Marsden) were dead and two people were sentenced to life in prison. Drew being one and a young woman named Robin Murphy being the other. Murphy was actually paroled a few years back but violated the terms of her parole and is back in prison as of now. Drew claims to this day while he was in fact a pimp who did practice Satanism, he wasn't responsible for the three murders that Murphy pinned on him in exchange for a lighter sentence. He claims Murphy manipulated him and that she herself was responsible for the death of the three local prostitutes.
There's far too much to go into and way too many small details that deserve a closer look. But that's the fast version of what went down. Many people, including some in law enforcement, have come forward claiming they stand behind Drew as not being the ringleader of the cult or killer he was portrayed as during his trial. Murphy has since contradicted her initial testimony made during the trial in which she fingered Drew as the one responsible. Drew is trying to appeal his conviction and wants a new trial. It has yet to happen, and many say it won't despite Murphy's most recent statements contradicting her original testimony.
There was a book written about the murders and trial called "Mortal Remains" by Henry Scammell. I have yet to read it personally, and have heard it's facts are flawed. I have however read another decent book that covered the case to a much lesser extent, as well as other happenings within the Freetown State Forest, called "Dark Woods: Cults, Crime, and Paranormal in the Freetown State Forest" by Christopher Balzano. Another name that bears mentioning is James Kater. He abducted a girl from Raynham, MA and took her to a secluded area in the Freetown State Forest where he killed her, all while on parole after serving time for another crime that was eerily similar. The crimes committed by Drew and/or Murphy weren't committed in the forest themselves, but Drew's makeshift "cult" congregated there frequently for ritualistic meetings.
Anyone familiar with this case or the forest itself have anything interesting to add?
www.murderpedia.org/male.D/d/drew-carl.htm
www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131006/LIFE/310060305&template=wapart
. Though being from 20 mins south of town as you said you are probably familiar as well. 
