Kelly Shaw and John Harper: Roommate and associate arrested after missing woman found dead at home
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS: Authorities in Weymouth, Massachusetts, said on Thursday, April 4, that two persons have been taken into custody for financial crimes as they look into the death of a woman whose body was discovered in her home after she was reported missing. One of the people arrested is the roommate of the deceased.
According to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, Kelly Shaw, 44, who had been living with missing Christine Ruth Mello, 56, was arrested along with her associate John "Jack" Harper, 45.
John Harper is person of interest in apparent homicide of Christine Mello
John Harper is a person of interest in the apparent homicide of Mello, whose body was discovered in her Weymouth home at 34 Lake St, according to Assistant District Attorney Aubrey Burr.
Burr claimed that Harper spent the month of March residing at the Lake Street residence with Mello's roommate Kelly Shaw, who is also the co-defendant. She claimed that in March, he was captured on camera making use of a Mello-owned debit card from Eastern Bank.
Four days before Mello's body was found by authorities, on March 28, Harper reportedly left the house abruptly, according to Burr.
Burr added that Harper attempted to flee through the back door before being captured in a Boston apartment.
Mello's neighbor said that she was last seen in late February, but did reply to a text message he sent her roughly ten days ago.
"She apparently responded but we don't know if it was her. The texts were wonky, they didn't look right. It was weird. Not how she'd respond," Mello's neighbor Anthony Arredondo said, as reported by NBC Boston.
As per the neighbors, Mello shared a home with a man. It was not apparent if the man was involved in the inquiry.
John Harper charged with six offenses
While investigating the murder, state and local police discovered that Shaw, 44, and Harper, 45, committed theft and issued forged checks among other offenses.
Harper was reportedly charged with six crimes, including receiving a stolen vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen RMV document, larceny exceeding $1,200, improper use of a credit card, and possession of cocaine. Shaw, a co-defendant, has not yet been charged.
According to the criminal complaint, he took the deceased's 2017 Buick Lacrosse and her debit card, the Patriot Ledger reported.
Harper's bail was set at $55,000. He was the subject of four arrest warrants pertaining to unresolved Quincy District Court cases. In these instances, his bail was canceled.
According to court records, the unresolved cases are all associated with burglary, credit card fraud, and theft.
District Attorney Michael Morrissey stated in a statement, "There are no homicide charges in place at this time as the investigation continues," though the office did notice that Mello's death is still being looked into as an apparent homicide.
Before the hearing was rescheduled for Friday, April 5 morning, Shaw and Harper were scheduled to appear in Quincy District Court on Thursday, April 4 afternoon, according to WBTS.
Harper attended North Quincy High School and graduated in 2000, according to defense attorney Ethan Yankowitz. His son resides in Hanover with his sister, while his parents are located in Quincy and Braintree.
