The search for missing Sturbridge man Austin Schepper, which spanned weeks, has taken a dark turn with authorities now charging Jonathan Poirier with his murder. Poirier, 30, of Holland, Massachusetts, entered a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder this Monday, as reported by Boston.com.
Held without bail following the arraignment in Palmer District Court, Poirier's connection to the murder came to light following an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police detectives and the Sturbridge and Holland police departments, the specifics of which have not been disclosed by the Hampden County District Attorney's Office, Poirier, who has a history of prior criminal cases and was recently charged with firearms-related offenses and credit card fraud in a case connected to Schepper’s disappearance, had allowed police to examine data from his cellphone, which indicated his attempts to sell two handguns he possessed but for which he had a suspended license to carry and Firearms Identification Card due to a prior incident at his home, according to court documents obtained by Boston.com.
Schepper's body was discovered in the vicinity of Union Road in Holland on February 26, more than two weeks after he was last seen and subsequent to this, his vehicle was located at the Big Bunny market in Southbridge, which pivoted the case from missing to missing and endangered as detailed by Telegram.com. The investigation continued to a grim conclusion as evidenced by a heavy police presence when authorities recovered Schepper’s body in the same area as Poirier’s listed address.
Schepper, 29, an Amazon employee and local Eagle Scout, was remembered for his notable contribution of building an observation deck at Old Sturbridge Village; his obituary reflects this, portraying him as a history enthusiast, model train collector, and described his death as a "senseless act of violence" whereby pointing out that "he was always friendly and helpful to his friends, family and everyone he met", as Boston.com reported; the Schepper family has requested that donations be made in his name to Autism Speaks, signifying his lasting impact and the void left in a community bereft of a man defined as much by his personal passions as his generous character, with Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni assuring that the focus of the law enforcement will now be the prosecution of the case and seeking justice for Schepper and those he left behind, in a statement reported by Telegram.com.
