No Bail For Brockton Man Accused Of Killing Father

BROCKTON, MA — A Brockton man killed his father by beating him with punches and by beating him with dumbbells, Plymouth County prosecutors said Tuesday.

Stephen Walcott, 42, of Brockton, was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty Tuesday to charges of murder and violating a restraining order.

Police were called to the East Bridgewater home of Walcott's father around 6:30 p.m. Monday, where they found Stephen M. Walcott Sr. suffering from head trauma. Stephen M. Walcott Sr., 70, was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:05 p.m.

According to the police report, Walcott Jr. said he arrived at his parent's home at 5 p.m. Monday. He punched his father after an argument and then "grabbed a dumbbell and hit his father in the back of his head."

Police found Walcott Jr. as he pulled into the driveway of the Brockton home he shares with his mother. As Walcott Jr. was handcuffed, his mother shouted "Did he kill his father?" to officers gathered in the driveway, according to a police report.

"Walcott stated that he killed his father because he is the devil,” the police report said. “Walcott explained that he went to his father’s house to beat him up . . . When he is doing badly, his father is doing great and acting like he’s great."

Walcott Jr. told police he has been hospitalized seven times since June, "all for mental illness." Walcott told police he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and court records show he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

“He couldn’t get the help that he needed,” Lisa Walcott, the victim’s daughter and the suspect’s sister, told reporters after Tuesday’s arraignmentafter Tuesday’s arraignment. “The whole thing is just tragic, it’s totally tragic because he’s the greatest kid, too. He’s awesome, he’s the best.”

Walcott Sr. took out a restraining order against his son in September after Walcott Jr. punched him in the face several times at the same East Bridgewater home.

After the September incident, Walcott Sr. told neighbors his son had stopped taking his medication and that he hoped police found him. "I hope they get him. He’s probably going to kill me if they don’t,” Walcott Sr. Said in September.

Walcott Jr. was voluntarily committed to Brockton Hospital on the night of the September incident.

"We tried getting him help,” Lisa Walcott said. “We tried to get him help and we knew it was going to happen, we just couldn’t do anything.

James S. Murphy, Walcott Jr.'s court-appointed attorney, said he will ask the court to order a mental health evaluation for his client.

It was the first murder in East Bridgewater since 1992. Walcott Jr. Is scheduled to return to court on March 8.

“He was the best guy ever and he’s never going to be replaced,” Lisa Walcott said of her father. “He was just the sweetest guy you’d ever want to know. He’d do anything for anybody...I can’t believe he’s gone.