Lorne Joe Acquin was born on March 21, 1950, in Canada. Details about his early life remain sparse, but he later moved to the United States and became a naturalized citizen. He resided in Connecticut and had a foster brother named Fred Beaudoin. Acquin's relationship with the Beaudoin family was close enough that he was a familiar presence in their household. However, underlying tensions and undisclosed issues may have contributed to the tragic events that unfolded in 1977.​

In the early hours of July 22, 1977, Acquin entered the home of his foster brother, Fred Beaudoin, located on Cedar Hill Drive in Prospect, Connecticut. Fred was at work during this time. Inside the house were Fred's wife, Cheryl Beaudoin, their seven children, and a niece. Acquin brutally attacked them using a tire iron, lug wrench, and knife. He tied up several of the victims before killing them. After the murders, he set the house on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and fled the scene.​

The next day, authorities discovered the charred remains of the victims. An intensive investigation led to Acquin's arrest on July 23, 1977. He confessed to the murders and was charged with nine counts of murder and one count of arson. On November 30, 1979, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life for each murder count and an additional 20 years for arson, totaling 245 years. Acquin served his sentence at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, Connecticut. He died on June 20, 2015, from a brain hemorrhage at the UConn Health Center in Farmington.