In the quiet, coastal town of Scituate, Massachusetts, people don't expect to see their neighbors hauling what looks like a body into a car. But that's exactly what happened in late August 2025 at the Driftview Condo Complex. Christopher Caron Scituate MA became a name synonymous with a chilling and bizarre sequence of events that left a Maine chef dead and a community in shock.
The details are grisly. They're also weirdly domestic. It’s one of those cases where the "how" is just as disturbing as the "why."
The August 22 Meeting
It all started when Declan Perry, a 27-year-old head chef from Portland, Maine, drove down to meet 42-year-old Christopher Caron. According to investigators from the Plymouth County District Attorney's office, the two had been texting about buying narcotics. They headed into Boston, picked up fentanyl and cocaine, and then returned to the condo at 40 Driftway, Unit 13, where Caron lived with his mother and grandmother.
✨ Don't miss: Philippines Volcano Eruption 2025: What Most People Get Wrong
By late that night, things went south.
At 11:49 p.m., Caron’s phone shows a Google search for "7-Eleven and Narcan." Around 1 a.m., he called a female friend for help. She arrived around 3 a.m. to find Perry unconscious in the basement. Despite her supposedly urging Caron to call 911, he refused. Why? He was apparently terrified his mother and grandmother would evict him if they found out drugs were in the house.
Honestly, the logic is hard to wrap your head around. Refusing life-saving medical care for a friend to avoid an awkward conversation with your mom is a choice most people can't imagine making.
The "Hockey Mannequin" Deception
When the sun came up, Declan Perry was dead.
This is where the story of Christopher Caron Scituate MA takes a turn into the surreal. Instead of calling the authorities, Caron allegedly used a detached interior door as a makeshift stretcher. He wrapped Perry's body in moving blankets and secured it with duct tape.
📖 Related: Arizona Presidential Election Results: What Most People Get Wrong
He didn't do it alone, though. He actually got his neighbors to help him.
- He told one neighbor it was a "hockey goalie mannequin" drained of water.
- He joked to the men helping him, "It looks like a dead body, huh?"
- One neighbor reportedly saw what looked like a human forearm but didn't call police until seeing news coverage later.
It’s almost like a scene from a dark comedy, except it’s real life and a young man is dead. Neighbors later recalled Perry’s feet were sticking out of the window as Caron drove the car away.
The Hospital Drop-Off
On Saturday, August 23, Caron drove Perry's own black Honda Civic to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. He walked inside, told the staff there was someone in the car who needed help, and then he just... left.
Hospital staff found Perry in the backseat, still wrapped in blankets and duct tape. He was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m.
While Caron initially tried to frame this as a simple overdose, the autopsy told a much darker story. The Chief Medical Examiner found evidence of blunt force trauma and strangulation. Deep hemorrhaging to the chest, back, and head suggested this wasn't just a medical emergency gone wrong; it was a homicide.
The Legal Fallout
Christopher Caron eventually turned himself in to the Scituate Police Department on August 30, 2025. He pleaded not guilty to murder in Hingham District Court.
His defense attorney, G. Makis Antzoulatos, has argued that the state is jumping to conclusions. The defense claims that while what happened was a tragedy, it wasn't a crime. They point to the drug use and the attempts to get Narcan as evidence of a panic-induced accident rather than "malice aforethought."
However, the prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague, is leaning heavily on the physical evidence of strangulation and the extreme measures Caron took to hide the body before the hospital drop-off.
Understanding the Impact
The community in Scituate is still processing this. It’s a town known for its lighthouse and harbor, not for "hockey mannequin" murder trials. For the family of Declan Perry, the loss is immeasurable. He was a talented chef at The Grill Room and Bar in Portland, described by his father as a "good kid with a ton of friends."
Basically, this case serves as a grim reminder of how quickly things can spiral when drugs and fear of consequence collide.
Actionable Insights for Community Awareness
If you find yourself in or near Scituate and want to follow the case or stay informed about local safety, here are the best steps to take:
- Monitor the Plymouth County DA’s Press Releases: They provide the most factual, up-to-date information on court dates and evidence filings.
- Attend or Watch Public Arraignments: Hingham District Court proceedings are often open to the public or covered in depth by local South Shore outlets like the Patriot Ledger.
- Support Local Harm Reduction: This case highlights the intersection of the opioid crisis and violent crime. Organizations like South Shore Peer Recovery offer resources for families dealing with addiction.
- Report Suspicious Activity Immediately: The "hockey mannequin" incident shows that your gut feeling is usually right. If you see something that looks like a body, it probably isn't a mannequin.
The trial is expected to move slowly through the Massachusetts court system. As of now, Caron remains held without bail, with the next major hearings focused on the forensic evidence found in the Driftway condo.