Police in Massachusetts arrested a man on Monday for allegedly killing his father in a ceremony intended to "purge" him of his alcoholism. In a press statement released by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. 19-year-old Jack Callahan repeatedly immersed the head of his 57-year-old father, Scott, in a shallow pond in what was intended as a combination baptism/exorcism to rid him of "alcohol demons." Plymouth Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham told reporters that Callahan believed that he was baptizing his father. “He was holding his father in the pond on his back like a baby, and he continually dunked his head under the water about four to eight times," she said. “When his father started to cough and choke, he would lift his head. And when the father started fighting, he would strike him and push his head back down into the water. He did so until his father was floating and no longer struggling.”
The accused told police that he had and a friend retrieved his father from a Boston bar after reportedly leaving an inpatient alcoholism treatment center. Blaming his father's alcoholism on a demon he called "Dirty Dan," Callahan told police that he gave his father a choice while at the pond to either "go to heaven with him or to hell. " He then told police that he believes his father chose hell, which led to his drowning. Callahan initially intended to bring his father to his mother's home, where he stayed while recovering from a work-related injury. Since the two divorced, the mother told her son that she did not want him at her home. He then took his father to a pond at Crooker Memorial Park, where the drowning occurred. Afterward, he proceeded home and told his mother that Scott was missing.
Though Jack Callahan appeared to be having a "nervous breakdown" and was still wearing wet clothes, the mother had no idea of what had happened since he had no history of mental illness. Instead, police and emergency crews were called out to look for Scott Callahan, along with a K-9 unit. His body was eventually found floating in the pond, along with his luggage. Despite attempting life-saving measures, the victim was later declared dead at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.
After pleading not guilty to murder at his arraignment hearing, Jack was ordered to be held without bail pending a mental health evaluation. He was later transferred to Bridgewater State Hospital after being seen "banging his head on the floor." Hospital staff approved the transfer as he can be watched more carefully. He is due back in court on August 12, and the Grand Jury will determine whether he will be indicted.
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