18-year-old charged in deaths of 3 in Weymouth

WEYMOUTH, Mass. -- Police charged 18-year-old Donald Rudolph with the killings of his mother, older sister and their mother's boyfriend after discovering what was described as a gruesome scene at the victims' home.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said Friday that police found the bodies, which he said showed evidence of massive trauma, after a neighbor reported suspicious activity at the house just after 8 p.m. Thursday.

The woman who called 911 said she saw someone, but didn’t know at the time it was the suspect. She said someone was walking around in a bedroom on the first floor without his shirt on.

The woman said when the male victim came home he told her he couldn’t reach his girlfriend. She told him that when he got inside he was to flick the lights and if she didn’t see it within five minutes she would call the police -- and that’s what she did.

When police arrived they saw the suspect crawling out of a basement window.

Officers began searching the house after noticing Rudolph’s clothing and hearing his statements.

“The initial discovery of the body in the house led officers to further investigate,” said Chief Richard Grimes of the Weymouth Police Department.

Morrissey said officers first saw the body of 52-year-old Frederick Medina on the first floor of the home, then found the bodies of 50-year-old Paula Rudolph and her 24-year-old daughter Caylin in a detached garage.

“I’m horrified,” said Elena Hickey, a neighbor. “I have two young kids so I’m absolutely and positively horrified.”

Hickey, along with the rest of the community, is stunned by the discovery. Many people placed flowers and ornaments at the house, which was draped in crime scene tape and the lawn dotted with evidence markers.

Many questions remain unanswered.

“At this time we’re unable to comment on any kind of motive or the exact sequence of events at which we have learned today,” said Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a press on Friday.

The lack of answers is making it harder for people in the community to try and understand why there was a triple murder on their street.

“It’s very disturbing to know that something like this can happen and it’s…the horrific crime is just startling,” said Beth Cantor, who placed flowers at the victims' home on Friday.

As word of the murders spread, the home became a morbid attraction to many people who took pictures with their cell phones.

Police described the crime scene as gruesome and unnerving.

“Families these days often face significant tragedies. It’s clearly a significant tragedy for the entire family and the surviving member and the neighbors as a whole, who I think are a close-knit community,” said Morrissey.

Neighbors said the suspect wasn’t supposed to be at the home. He had been living with his father in Quincy.

Authorities said the victim has another sister, Brittany Rudolph, who attends college out of state. Caylin Rudolph had twin daughters who are safe.

Donald Rudolph had several run-ins with the law before the triple murder and many had tried to help him.

“I knew he had problems and we were trying to help him with all his problems,” said Ronny Lippett, a former Patriots player who tried to help Rudolph.

Lippett fostered Rudolph for a year but he got in trouble. He was in court for allegedly shooting a b.b. gun at people outside a convenience store. He had also been arrested for attempted burglary and for trying to sell drugs near a school.

“I’m just so, so sad about the whole thing,” said Lippett. Lippett said he stopped fostering Rudolph when he became violent.

The family of the victims wanted to speak out about the crime.

“I want people to know he was a great guy, he’s one of those people that would do anything for anyone,” said Stephen Medina, the victim’s brother.

Medina said he had been dating Paula Rudolph happily for about three years.

“He loved Paula and he stayed by Paula’s side even though she had troubled children,” said Laura Medina, the victim’s mother.

Donald Rudolph will be arraigned on Monday.

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