Joseph Druce
Encyclopedia
Joseph Druce is a convicted murderer best known for having killed John Geoghan
- the former Roman Catholic priest who was convicted of sexually abusing
children, and who had also been at the center of the Catholic sexual abuse scandal
.
In August 2003, while in protective custody at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
in Shirley, Massachusetts
, Geoghan was trapped in his cell by Druce, who jammed the door closed so guards could not reach him. Druce then strangled and stomped Geoghan to death. An autopsy
revealed Geoghan's cause of death
to be "ligature strangulation and blunt chest trauma."
The state immediately began an investigation into procedures at the prison. There have been questions raised about the wisdom and propriety of placing these two men in the same unit, since prison officials had been warned by another inmate Druce had something planned. It was noted while two guards are normally stationed in the unit where Geoghan and Druce were being held, there was only one guard in the unit at the time - one had left temporarily to escort another inmate to a medical station. Union officials had noted there were staffing cuts previously at the prison, which they feel led to the prison being a more dangerous and volatile place.
It has also been suggested Druce had been offered money to kill Geoghan, or Druce thought he would gain prestige from fellow prisoners for doing so. A Worcester, Massachusetts
jury found Druce guilty of first-degree murder on January 25, 2006, after rejecting his insanity defense. During the trial Druce was seen with a black eye he received from an individual who surprised him in his cell. The man who had surprised Druce was reported to have been wearing corrections officer pants, suggesting a reprisal by prison staff for the embarrassment surrounding Geoghan's murder.
In June 2007, the Boston Herald
received a handwritten letter signed "Joseph Lee Druce", stating ""The truth about officer involvement in John Geogan's (sic) death," along with the address www.youtube.com/JosephDruce. The address contained a video taken by security cameras inside of Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
, made during the murder. The 10-minute video shows the attempts made by correctional officers to open the cell door (as many as five pulling at one time). Eventually the door is opened, officers extract Druce, and medical personnel enter the cell. However, inmates at Souza-Baranowski do not have Internet access. Department of Correction officials are currently investigating who posted the video, as it is from an internal security camera.
At the time Druce killed Geoghan, he was already serving life without possibility of parole for killing a man who allegedly made a pass at him after picking Druce up hitchhiking.
In the interim between the two above crimes he had become a small sensation for sending fake anthrax
to lawyers with Jewish names from prison.
John Geoghan
John J. Geoghan was a key figure in the Roman Catholic sex abuse cases that rocked the Boston Archdiocese in the 1990s and 2000s and led to the resignation of Boston's archbishop, Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, on December 13, 2002.-Career Summary:...
- the former Roman Catholic priest who was convicted of sexually abusing
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
children, and who had also been at the center of the Catholic sexual abuse scandal
Roman Catholic sex abuse cases
The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders. These cases began receiving public attention beginning in the mid-1980s...
.
In August 2003, while in protective custody at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center is a maximum security prison located at MCI Shirley in Shirley, Massachusetts, United States. The prison opened September 30, 1998 and is one of the most high-tech correctional facilities in the United States....
in Shirley, Massachusetts
Shirley, Massachusetts
-Demographics:This article describes the town of Shirley as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate values reported here...
, Geoghan was trapped in his cell by Druce, who jammed the door closed so guards could not reach him. Druce then strangled and stomped Geoghan to death. An autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
revealed Geoghan's cause of death
Cause of Death
Cause of Death is a 1990 album by American death metal band Obituary. Cause of Death is considered a classic album in the history of death metal. The artwork was done by artist Michael Whelan...
to be "ligature strangulation and blunt chest trauma."
The state immediately began an investigation into procedures at the prison. There have been questions raised about the wisdom and propriety of placing these two men in the same unit, since prison officials had been warned by another inmate Druce had something planned. It was noted while two guards are normally stationed in the unit where Geoghan and Druce were being held, there was only one guard in the unit at the time - one had left temporarily to escort another inmate to a medical station. Union officials had noted there were staffing cuts previously at the prison, which they feel led to the prison being a more dangerous and volatile place.
It has also been suggested Druce had been offered money to kill Geoghan, or Druce thought he would gain prestige from fellow prisoners for doing so. A Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
jury found Druce guilty of first-degree murder on January 25, 2006, after rejecting his insanity defense. During the trial Druce was seen with a black eye he received from an individual who surprised him in his cell. The man who had surprised Druce was reported to have been wearing corrections officer pants, suggesting a reprisal by prison staff for the embarrassment surrounding Geoghan's murder.
In June 2007, the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
received a handwritten letter signed "Joseph Lee Druce", stating ""The truth about officer involvement in John Geogan's (sic) death," along with the address www.youtube.com/JosephDruce. The address contained a video taken by security cameras inside of Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center is a maximum security prison located at MCI Shirley in Shirley, Massachusetts, United States. The prison opened September 30, 1998 and is one of the most high-tech correctional facilities in the United States....
, made during the murder. The 10-minute video shows the attempts made by correctional officers to open the cell door (as many as five pulling at one time). Eventually the door is opened, officers extract Druce, and medical personnel enter the cell. However, inmates at Souza-Baranowski do not have Internet access. Department of Correction officials are currently investigating who posted the video, as it is from an internal security camera.
At the time Druce killed Geoghan, he was already serving life without possibility of parole for killing a man who allegedly made a pass at him after picking Druce up hitchhiking.
In the interim between the two above crimes he had become a small sensation for sending fake anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
to lawyers with Jewish names from prison.