HOULTON, Maine — A suspect in a double homicide in Massachusetts was apprehended Tuesday night after he tried to cross the border into Canada at Woodstock, New Brunswick, and will be heading back to Massachusetts after a brief court hearing in Presque Isle on Wednesday.
Joseph Wright, 23, of Lynn, Mass., told authorities that he cut the throats of his mother and grandmother, whose bodies were found Tuesday morning in Saugus, Mass., according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Massachusetts.
Wright agreed during a brief hearing Wednesday in Maine to return to Massachusetts to face murder charges in the deaths of his mother, 54-year-old Donna Breau, and his grandmother, 83-year-old Melba Trahant.
Wright lived with his mother, one floor above Trahant.
According to the affidavit, he told authorities he left the knife at Trahant’s apartment. Investigators said Wright was driving Trahant’s car when arrested. Investigators said they found blood at Wright’s Lynn address, on the car and on Wright’s undershorts.
Wright was taken into custody Tuesday night as he attempted to cross the U.S.-Canada border between Houlton and Woodstock, New Brunswick.
According to officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Wright drove up to the Canadian port of entry in Woodstock, N.B., just after 6 p.m. Canadian Border Services officers directed him to secondary screening area for additional questioning and inspection. At that point, CBP officials said that Wright fled the scene and was pursued by Canadian authorities.
U.S. Border Patrol personnel and equipment were deployed to the international boundary near Richmond Corner, New Brunswick. Additional resources also were arranged to assist with securing the area should Wright attempt to re-enter the United States. A CBP Houlton Air Branch helicopter also was launched for aerial support. Wright was subsequently caught about 5 or 6 miles from the border in Richmond Corner by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The RCMP turned Wright over to U.S. Border Patrol who then turned him over to Maine State Police. He was taken to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton and was arraigned by video conference in Presque Isle District Court at 1 p.m. Wednesday on fugitive from justice charges.
Aroostook County Deputy District Attorney Carrie Linthicum was the prosecutor on the case. She said Wednesday afternoon that Wright appeared before Judge David Griffiths and was represented from the jail by Jeff Pickering, a Houlton attorney. He told Griffiths that he understood his rights but did not make any other statements. Linthicum said that bail was not allowed because of the nature of the charges against him. The judge read the charge but no other information related to the murder case was submitted to the court, according to Linthicum.
Wright waived extradition and will be taken by Massachusetts State Police detectives back to Massachusetts to face murder charges.
He was still in the Houlton jail at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Glad everyone is ok and the POS was caught and be held accountable for his alleged involvement.
I think his mother and grandmother would disagree with you that everyone is ok.
I was referring to the police on both sides and the security guards on the canadian side since they are not law enforcement.
Now what gives you the idea that CBSA Officers are not law enforcement? They are deemed to be under Section 2 of the Criminal Code of Canada. They arrest for many infractions including drugs, firearms, warrants, impaired driving, etc. They carry batons, pepper spray & handcuffs. Most are now carrying firearms. Not sure what it takes in your mind but if you were to pull up to the booth breaking the law for some reason, as you look out between the bars you may change your mind.
Law enforcement is a job that require extensive background, polygraph exam, physiological exam, physical fitness tests on a regular bases. They law enforcement wannabees. They are tax collectors and even they know it. If they are law enforcement, then why did the RCMP have to arrest him and not hand him over to the security guards. It is because they enforce certain criminal code laws that only apply to border crossings. They cant arrest for warrants, OUI’s, disorderly REAL crimes. But you bring a 6 pack into canada and they want that tax. VERY seldom do they get someone with a gun or drugs. Even then they are still charging for border related crimes. EVERY SINGLE DAY THEY COLLECT THAT TAX. But, I still respect the job and although I dont to to the Island often, it still is a crappy job dealing with people like me who gives an honest opinion.
Not sure where you got your information, but I can tell you that it is WRONG. They no undergo extensive training, frequent recertifications, background checks and all the physc tests. They can and do arrest for warrants, OUI’s. They adminsiter the roadside alert to suspected impaired drivers. The reason they called the RCMP is that their authority is at the POE and they do not have “chase vehicles”. RCMP were contacted, found & aprehended the individual and turned him over to the CBSA officers.
And yes, they do collect taxes on imports because it’s part of their job – same as their US couterparts. Perhaps if you checked the CBSA website you would see the statistics on firearm seizures, drug seizures, etc. Do a little research before going off on your rant.
You can make yourself think you are a cop but you are not. The person reading this may believe you but you know you are NOT correct. They are cop flunkies who want to have a power trip
ohh and if they stopped worrying about that tax then maybe they would get the drugs/money that go to and from the Island.
troll level: boss.
He will be coddled and nurtured….
It is the way the system works..
The RCMP always get their man.
Guess he didn’t have the forethought to cut his hair first!
Wow! Only 12 hours from finding the bodies to catching the guy (if he is guilty). Killed a woman and her geriatric mother, hauled them 11 miles, them dumped them behind a school.
Good work by local police and the Border guards.Wonder what about him made them want a secondary search? (sarcasm)
It turns out that the victims were his mother and grand mother. Stabbed and throats slit.
Obviously another messed up person.
You obviously haven’t experienced the system then.
Now isn’t he an upstanding looking young man, probably a
good candidate for a life spent in prison?
lynn, lynn the city of sin, you dont come out the same as you went in
you read my mind!
Another reason for the death penalty. He did it. Now time to die. If for no other reason than so I don’t have to pay to keep him locked up. Normally I don’t mind paying taxes when it comes to housing criminals. but there are always exceptions.
Good job to everyone involved!!
Here we go again, millions of dollars for a trial, then appeals and we support him, care for him and give him free health care and more luxuries than many honest, hard working people can afford! What a screwed up judicial system and Government we have!
That is one serious mop-o-hair.
probs to the CBP and USBP guys for their professionalism on this. Nice to see the system in action and working sometimes!