John Jefferson
Inset: Paul O’Brien appears in court on Jan. 13, 2025 (WCVB). Background: The apartment complex where Paul O’Brien allegedly stabbed his mother and stepfather (WCVB).
On the night of his 29th birthday, a man in Massachusetts allegedly stabbed his mother and stepfather repeatedly, taking his rampage “everywhere” inside of their home and leaving them to die.
Paul O’Brien was taken into custody over the weekend and charged with two counts each of armed assault to murder on a person 60 years or older, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 years or older, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery.
According to a news release from the Stoughton Police Department, officers at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, responded to a 911 call reporting a “disturbance” at an apartment complex on Page Terrace, which is just under 20 miles south of Boston.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they found two adult victims, a male and a female, who each appeared to be suffering from multiple stab wounds.
“One victim was flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital, and the second victim was transported by ambulance to a Boston hospital, both to be treated for injuries that are considered serious,” police wrote in the release. “One person is in custody, and police are not seeking any additional suspects at this time.”
The names of the victims were not released by authorities.
Court records obtained by Boston ABC affiliate WCVB and local newspaper The Enterprise provided additional details about the circumstances of the alleged stabbing and O’Brien’s arrest.
According to the report, O’Brien placed the 911 call himself and confessed to trying to kill his mother and stepfather by stabbing them.
“When asked where he stabbed her, the 911 caller replied that he stabbed her ‘everywhere,’” Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney said during a Monday hearing. “When asked how many times he stabbed her, the male caller replied, ‘Enough,’ and that ‘they were both going to die.’”
The victims were later identified as Kathleen and Michael Gaito. Kathleen Gaito was reportedly found facedown in “what appeared to be a pool of blood” outside her bathroom while her husband was found in a bedroom. A bloody knife was recovered from next to Kathleen Gaito, police said.
A blood-covered O’Brien was allegedly waiting for police outside of the apartment when first responders arrived at the apartment building.
O’Brien’s stepfather was reportedly able to speak with police at the scene and told them that he and his wife were sitting inside of their bedroom when O’Brien came in and just started stabbing them both “repeatedly.”
Authorities have not provided any information about a possible motive for the alleged attack.
O’Brien is currently being held without bond pending a dangerousness hearing which is currently scheduled to take place on Friday.
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