Man Charged With Murder After ER Staff Find Body Wrapped in Duct Tape in Car
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Christopher Caron, 42, of Scituate, is charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Maine chef Declan Perry.
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Caron drove the body to South Shore Hospital, told staff someone needed help — then fled the scene. Perry was found dead in his car, wrapped in blankets and duct tape.
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He allegedly told neighbors the body was a “hockey mannequin” while moving it to the car.
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Though Caron claimed it was an overdose, an autopsy showed blunt force injuries and strangulation.
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Caron has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail until his next court date on September 29.
A 42-year-old Massachusetts man is being held without bail after prosecutors say he beat and strangled a Maine chef, then left his body wrapped in blankets and duct tape in a car parked outside South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.
Christopher Caron of Scituate pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the murder of 27-year-old Declan Perry, a chef from Maine whose body was discovered in the backseat of a black Honda Civic on August 23. Hospital staff say Caron entered the emergency department and reported someone needed help in a vehicle outside — then fled the scene. Authorities later confirmed that the Honda Civic belonged to Perry.
Injuries Detailed at Arraignment
Caron allegedly told others that Perry died of a drug overdose, but investigators say autopsy results tell a different story.
During Tuesday’s arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague listed Perry’s injuries in court:
- Deep hemorrhaging to his chest, back, and the back of his head
- Blunt force injuries to the face
- Evidence of strangulation around the neck
“All of these injuries, according to the medical examiner, occurred prior to death,” Sprague said, adding that the results were not consistent with an overdose.
Plymouth District Attorney Tim Cruz echoed that conclusion outside the courtroom, calling the injuries “very discerning” and a key reason why the death is now being treated as a homicide.
Caron’s attorney, G. Makis Antzoulatos, pushed back in a statement, arguing that the charge was premature:
“We are confident that as the facts unfold in this case, this will be an example of the Massachusetts State Police jumping to conclusions and charging someone with murder when the evidence makes clear that what took place, while a tragedy, was not a crime.”
Late-Night Panic and Search History
According to court documents and reporting by The Boston Globe, Caron and Perry texted each other on August 22 about meeting up to use fentanyl and cocaine. Caron allegedly warned Perry to be cautious with the drugs, texting:
“You gotta go easy on this too, delete all these messages.”
Later that night, Caron made a Google search for “7-11 Narcan” around 11:40 p.m., and by 1 a.m., he was messaging a female friend to bring Narcan to his home. She arrived around 3 a.m. and found Perry unconscious in Caron’s basement bedroom.
Despite three doses of Narcan, Perry was unresponsive by morning. The woman told investigators she begged Caron to call an ambulance, but he allegedly refused, saying he feared being evicted by his mother and grandmother, who owned the condo.
At 6:59 a.m., Caron reportedly searched:
“When you die, how long until you poop and pee yourself.”
Wrapped Body, Neighbors Misled, Hospital Drop-Off
Prosecutors say Caron wrapped Perry’s body in blankets and duct tape and attempted to move him into his car.
- One neighbor offered help and was asked for duct tape
- Another was told the bundle was a “hockey goalie mannequin”
- A third reportedly noticed what looked like a human forearm under the blankets
Caron then drove the vehicle — which belonged to Perry — to South Shore Hospital, alerted staff that someone needed medical attention, and quickly left the scene.
Search and Arrest
Neighbors later recognized the vehicle from news coverage and contacted police. Investigators executed a search warrant at Caron’s condo, where they reportedly found red-brown stains on the couch and carpet, as well as drug-related texts and searches on Caron’s phone.
A warrant was issued for his arrest Friday night. Caron turned himself in to Scituate Police the following day. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 29.
Remembering Declan Perry
Declan Perry’s Facebook page listed his profession as a chef in Maine. His father, Brendan Perry, posted a tribute on August 25.
“Saying that Declan is gone doesn’t seem possible. Losing him hurts so much,” he wrote. “Our pain is love.”
He also praised law enforcement for how they’ve handled the case.
“The District Attorney, state police and local police have been phenomenal. couldn’t ask to be in better hands.”
The cause and manner of death remain under investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
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