PEABODY, MASS. (WHDH) - The Essex County District Attorney’s office confirmed Friday that Peabody murder suspect Wes Doughty was taken into custody in South Carolina.
Police said Doughty was found at around 3:30 p.m. outside a McDonald’s in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A driver said his coworker recognized Doughty from an article online and called police.
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said Doughty was arrested after being questioned as a panhandler. They said officers found him begging for money at a highway intersection.
Doughty is accused of killing Mark Greenlaw and Jennifer O’Connor, whose bodies were found in a Peabody house earlier this week. Police said the couple’s bodies were found wrapped up in carpeting.
State Police and Peabody Police officers searched through a marsh off I-95 Friday, confirming it was connected to their search of Doughty. A rifle was found and sources said it may be connected to the murders.
On Wednesday night, police said Doughty carjacked Kenneth Metz outside a restaurant in Middleton and drove down to Boston. While Doughty was buying alcohol at a liquor store in the South End, Metz said he jumped out of the car and ran for help at a pizzeria.
Police said Metz’s car was found outside of a Waffle House in South Carolina.
He is due in court there on Monday.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)