Suspicious death under investigation in Shirley

SHIRLEY, Mass. — A suspicious death on Groton Road in Shirley has friends and neighbors in the small town upset and wondering what happened.

Shirley Police and State Police vehicles filled the driveway on Monday morning. Yellow crime scene tape was strung up out front of the home at 111 Groton Rd.

“It’s terrible,” said Kara Oliveira, who is a neighbor of the victim.

She said his name was Bill Hatch.

“He was a great man. He was a good friend of mine. I don’t know how he passed away,” Oliveira said.

The victim’s brother, who asked us not to identify him, also lives in town. He confirmed for Boston 25 that Bill Hatch was 69 years old and lived alone. He said he visited his brother every day but didn’t come by on Sunday due to the storm.

Today he said his brother’s girlfriend called to tell him at 1 o’clock to come by the house immediately. When he got there, he said police questioned him but would not say what happened.

The Middlesex County DA released a statement that said in part:

“Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Shirley Chief of Police Samuel Santiago have confirmed the ongoing investigation into a death that occurred today on Groton Road in Shirley…this is being investigated as a suspicious death.”

Beyond that, family and friends are left wondering what happened. Neighbors had nothing but nice things to say about the victim and are left wondering how and why he died under suspicious circumstances.

“It’s right down the street from where we lived. We don’t know what’s going on. So we walked down here. He was a really good guy,” said Kyle Clapper, who is a neighbor.

Shirley’s police chief told Boston 25 that people in town should not be worried because, he said, there is no threat to the public.

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