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Murdered familyBy DON HYMAN PROSPECT, Conn, (AP) — It was the first cool night after a blistering eight-day heat wave. The seven Beaudoin children, their mother and a cousin never saw the morning light.They died in a fire that a state police spokesman said appeared to be the largest mass murder in Connecticut’s history.Mrs. Cheryl Beaudoin, whom neighbors remember for her big-eyed smile, apparently married very young. State police estimate her age as 29. Her children ranged in age from 4 to 12.The bodies, all burned to some degree, were discovered early yesterday morning in the remains of the three-bedroom ranch house that was the Beaudoin family's home for 10 years.At least half the children were found bound and gagged, police said.Teams of investigators followed leads offered by neighbors and the sole surviving member ofihe family, Fred Beaudoin, the father. He was at work when the fire swept through the house.• They were very nice, quiet people. The children were ail in our religious program. The kids were never in trouble,’’ said the Rev. Joseph Donnelly, curate of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, about a mile from the Beaudoin home.A neighbor said Mrs. Beaudoin and her children almost filled an entire church pew each Sunday at mass.Father Donnelly remembered that Mrs. Beaudoin was one of the few to ever write him a thank-you note for the Thanksgiving Day food basket that church members sent last year to r.eedv parishioners.Newprf, (R.l.) D a ilyNsws, Saturday, My 23,1977 9‘good neighbor’”1 find myself as helpless as everyone else I see. The best thing Is to try and do something to change a society that can foster something like this,” he said.The Beaudoin house stood at the foot of Cedar Hill Drive, a pleasant middle-class neighborhood with tidy lawns and lots of children. The house stood out only because of the untrimmed hedge and somewhat shaggy lawn.There also is a sign on the lawn. It reads: live Bait, Night Crawlers.It was a courtesy extended by Fred Beaudoin to a youngster with a small fishbait business.It's hard to believe they’re dead when they've just been playing in your yard, said Theresa Bainer, who lives three doors away. The mother was always with the kids. She lived for them, I'll say that.Fred Jr., 12, the oldest of the Beaudoin children, had filled in for Mrs. Bainer’s son on his newspaper route occasionally. He was going to take it over full time Monday, she said.Mrs. Patricia Paolino, who knew Fred, recalled, 1 used to enjoy opening the door when he delivered papers. His face used to light up. You couldn’t help but smile.This whole neighborhood is completely shocked and stunned. We’ve always had a neighborhood where everybody was out to help everybody. We never had any problems, she added.Mrs. Paolino’s brother-in-law, Joseph Paolino, who lives across the street from the Beaudoin house, had tried to enter the bouse to save the family.
Newspaper Details
Newport Daily News
Newport, Rhode Island, US
Sat, Jul 23, 1977
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
DC, USA 02 Dec 2021
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