Peabody Murder Suspect Caught in South Carolina

PEABODY, MA – Wes Doughty, the second suspect in the Peabody killings, was arrested in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after getting questioned as a panhandler.

The Essex County DA's office announced Doughty's arrest just before 5 p.m. on Friday, and said South Carolina authorities alerted them at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.

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Doughty was wanted in connection with the murders of Jennifer O'Connor, 40, and her boyfriend Mark Greenlaw, 37. Their bodies were discovered by police on Saturday night at 19 Farm Ave. in Peabody, an address with a violent past.

Spartanburg authorities say investigators observed a panhandler at an intersection holding a sign asking for money around 4:15 p.m. The investigators confronted Doughty in a McDonald's parking lot and told him soliciting was illegal, police said. He was arrested without incident.

Authorities learned Doughty was wanted for murder and a carjacking in Massachusetts. The car in question was recovered at a Waffle House next to the McDonald's.

Doughty will be arraigned at the Spartanburg County Detention Facility on Monday on a fugitive from justice charge, the Essex County DA's Office said. He will be returned to Massachusetts within the week if he waives rendition.

Doughty allegedly carjacked a man in Middleton on Wednesday evening. The first suspect in the murders, Michael Webb, 45, of Peabody, was arrested on Monday, and pleaded not guilty in Peabody District Court on Tuesday.

Police activity closed one lane on Route 128 North in Peabody on Friday afternoon for something related to the murders, state police said.

"District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, Peabody Police Chief Tom Griffin and Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt are anxious to assure the public that Mr. Doughty is in custody," said the statement from Blodgett's office.

This story will be updated.

Image via Essex County DA