On the day after Christmas in 2000, a tragedy unfolded in the quiet town of Wakefield, Massachusetts, forever altering the lives of many. Jennifer Bragg Capobianco, a 29-year-old new mother, had recently returned to her job in the marketing department at Edgewater Technology. She had cut her maternity leave short to help save money for a house for her growing family, including her infant daughter and husband, Jeff.
That morning, a disgruntled employee named Michael Morgan McDermott, a
42-year-old software engineer, entered the office armed with a semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. McDermott was reportedly angered that the company was going to garnish his wages to pay back taxes. He proceeded to walk through the office, systematically shooting and killing seven of his coworkers. Jennifer Bragg Capobianco was among the victims, shot four times in the torso at her desk.
After the rampage, McDermott was found by police sitting calmly in the reception area and was arrested without incident. He was subsequently charged with seven counts of murder. During his trial, his defense team argued for an insanity defense. However, the prosecution maintained that he was motivated by anger over his financial situation. The jury ultimately found Michael McDermott guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
