A New Hampshire teenager, Eric Sweeney, has been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder in the 2022 deaths of his sister-in-law and his 4- and 1-year-old nephews. The state attorney general, John M. Formella, confirmed the charges on Wednesday. Sweeney is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Kassandra Sweeney, 4-year-old Benjamin Sweeney, and 23-month-old Mason Sweeney in their Northfield home. The Merrimack County Grand Jury indicted Sweeney on the murder charges, stating that he purposely caused the deaths by shooting the victims.
Additionally, Sweeney was indicted on one count of falsifying physical evidence. The indictment alleges that he altered, destroyed, concealed, or removed a Taurus .40 caliber handgun with the intention of impairing its availability in the investigation. The details of the case are limited due to Sweeney being a juvenile.
The triple homicide occurred on August 3, 2022, when police were called to the Sweeneys’ residence and discovered the victims inside, each with a single gunshot wound. The 911 caller’s identity has not been disclosed by authorities. The Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Jennie V. Duval, determined the deaths to be homicides.
Eric Sweeney, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was arrested eight days after the shooting. However, his name could not be released until he was recently indicted due to his age. Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoff Ward stated that the victims’ husband and father, Sean Sweeney, has been cooperative and helpful in the investigation.
A GoFundMe page was set up to support Sean Sweeney after the tragic loss. Eric Sweeney is currently detained in the Sununu Youth Services Center, a secure facility in Manchester for individuals aged 13 to 17. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on November 3.
