Town file
Groton, Massachusetts
Groton, Massachusetts (Middlesex County, Massachusetts) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 656, "The Killer Prodigy" (13 December 2025). On 8 September 2017 four members of one wealthy, philanthropic family were beaten to death with a baseball bat in a modest house on Common Street in Groton, Massachusetts.
- Town
- Groton
- County
- Middlesex County
- State
- Massachusetts
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 656
- Approximate location
- 42.612, -71.565
Episode 656 / 13 December 2025 / 72 min / express
The Killer Prodigy
"It's Groton, Massachusetts. It's in eastern Massachusetts... This is in Middlesex county." about 0:03:44
The case: Murders of Elizabeth 'Buffy' Krous, Dan Lackey, Esu Lackey and Bertha May Parker (September 8, 2017). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2025
- Population
- 11,254
- Median household income
- $169,497
- Median home value
- $645,800
History, in brief
- Groton was officially settled and incorporated in 1655. about 0:05:33
- The town was named for Groton in Suffolk, England, the home town of selectman Dean Winthrop and also of the family of Massachusetts governor John Winthrop. about 0:05:40
- In October 1671 the Willard family's 16-year-old servant Elizabeth Knapp fell into what was judged to be a demonic possession, with fits, barking, bleeding and speaking in different voices, and accused a neighbour of bewitching her, an accusation Reverend Willard did not pursue because he knew the neighbour to be pious. about 0:06:03
- Groton Fest has been held since 1979, produced by the Groton Business Association, with spring, summer, autumn and winter festivals. about 0:09:05
The reviews read out
5 stars
"Grew up there; great schools, friendly neighbours, lots of trails, beautiful in the fall, cute cafes and farm-to-table restaurants, family-oriented and safe."about 0:07:10
3 stars
"Pleasant and cute with great historical stuff, but never felt quite at home; thankful for opportunities but would not move back after graduating high school."about 0:07:45
3 stars
"Pretty rural community with plenty of hiking and canoeing; people in the area are generally friendly."about 0:08:11
1 star
"Very few local businesses and none of them are hiring."about 0:08:22
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Ashburnham, Massachusetts18 miles
- Salem, New Hampshire21 miles
- Mont Vernon, New Hampshire22 miles
- Framingham, Massachusetts22 miles
- Wakefield, Massachusetts27 miles
- Needham, Massachusetts28 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.