Bio

Matthew A. Slocum was born in 1987. He grew up in a household that included his mother, Lisa Harrington, and her husband, Dan Harrington. Slocum also had a stepbrother named Joshua O'Brien, who was the son of Dan Harrington from a previous marriage. The family lived in White Creek, New York.

As a child, Slocum faced challenges that affected his early life. He had a history of trouble with the law, which began when he was a teenager. He was convicted in 2006 for grand larceny and served time in prison until 2010. After his release, he struggled to adjust to life outside and found himself in legal trouble again for various violations.

Despite his issues, he had close family ties. His mother, Lisa, was described as caring. Dan Harrington, his stepfather, was a deputy highway superintendent and involved in local community activities. Slocum lived with his family, including his girlfriend, Loretta Colegrove, and their infant son, Raymond, in the family home.

As he got older, Slocum's relationships with his family reportedly became strained. At the time that significant events in his life unfolded, indications suggested there were tensions related to his living situation and future plans. Family members were reportedly trying to help him find a more independent living arrangement.

Murder Story

On July 13, 2011, Matthew A. Slocum shot and killed three members of his family in their home in White Creek, New York. The victims were his mother, Lisa Harrington, 44; her husband, Dan Harrington, 41; and Dan's son from a previous marriage, Joshua O'Brien, 24. Slocum used a 12-gauge shotgun for the murders. After the shootings, he set their house on fire and fled the scene with his girlfriend, Loretta Colegrove, and their infant son, Raymond.

After the fire was reported at around 4:09 a.m., police began searching for Slocum. Neighbors had noticed the flames and called for help. When investigators arrived, they found the three victims dead inside the burned house. A manhunt for Slocum started soon after, as he drove away in a stolen car belonging to one of the victims. He and Colegrove were eventually located in New Hampshire later that day, after fleeing to several locations.

When authorities captured Slocum, he was cooperative but denied responsibility for the murders. Instead, he claimed that Colegrove was the one who shot his family while he was sleeping. However, Colegrove testified against him, stating that Slocum was the shooter. She said that he aimed the shotgun at his family and then later set the house on fire, which Slocum admitted to doing in court.

After a quick deliberation, a jury found Slocum guilty of three counts of second-degree murder and other related charges. He was sentenced on March 30, 2012, to 88 years to life in prison, where he must serve 88 years before being eligible for parole.