Was the Murder of This Wealthy Couple a ‘Professional’ Hit? In the quiet, affluent town of Andover, Massachusetts, the approach of Christmas in 2011 was shattered by a brutal act of violence that claimed the lives of a beloved couple. Geraldine "Jeri" Magee, a 67-year-old retired schoolteacher, and her husband, John "Jack" Magee, 69, a successful real estate developer, were found murdered in their sprawling home on Orchard Crossing on the morning of December 14, 2011.
The grim discovery was made by their daughter, Holly, who had arrived to drop off her children for her parents to babysit while she went Christmas shopping.
The day before, December 13th, had been a routine one for the Magees. Jeri, a former elementary school teacher in Billerica, had spoken with her daughter on the phone around 4:40 p.m. to finalize their plans for the next day. Their son, John Jr., who worked with his father, had been at his parents' home, which also housed the family business office in the basement, until about 4:30 p.m. and reported that everything seemed normal. However, when Holly arrived the next morning, she found the television blaring and the family dog agitated. Her young daughter then tragically found her grandparents' bodies in the living room. Holly immediately gathered her children, ran outside, and called 911.
John and Geraldine Magee had both been shot to death at close range with what investigators believe was a. 45-caliber firearm, possibly an older model. Their hands were bound, yet there were no signs of forced entry into their home, and nothing appeared to have been stolen. The scene suggested a calculated and targeted attack, leading investigators to characterize it as a double homicide that bore the hallmarks of a professional hit. The couple was found in their day clothes, indicating the murders likely occurred on the evening of December 13th.
Adding to the mystery, the couple's new Lexus SUV was discovered engulfed in flames around 10:30 p.m. on December 13th on Prince Street in Boston's North End, over 20 miles away from their Andover home. This finding suggested a timeline where the perpetrators killed the couple and then drove their vehicle to the city to destroy it. Investigators have sought information about a man who was reportedly seen with the SUV in the North End, but no definitive suspects have been publicly identified.
In the years since the murders, the investigation has been extensive, involving state and local police who have pursued leads across multiple states and numerous cities and towns. They have conducted exhaustive interviews with family, friends, and business associates, and have meticulously examined financial records and electronic devices, but no arrests have ever been made in the case. The Essex County District Attorney's Office has periodically renewed public appeals for information, and as of recent updates, the case remains an active and unsolved investigation. The community of Andover was left shaken by the violent deaths of the well-respected couple, and the lack of resolution continues to leave a void for their grieving family and friends.
