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Robert Mortell

Death by Force
Case Description
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On a cold February day in 1994, the town of Paxton, Massachusetts, lost its Police Chief, Robert Mortell, a 38-year-old White male, in a fatal shooting. The events leading to his death began with a series of break-ins in the neighboring town of Holden. Three men, Michael Souza, Jamie Richards, and Kenneth Padgett, after committing two burglaries, found themselves in a difficult situation when the van they had stolen got stuck in a snowbank. Their desperation escalated, leading them to carjack a ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (6)
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  • Chief of Police Robert J. Mortell
  • Reflections for Chief of Police Robert J. Mortell, Paxton Police ...
    •     ...View 4 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Robert Mortell

    Male

    White / Caucasian

    Paxton

    MA

    1994-02-01

    38

    Robert

    Mortell

    11/08/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    I've been thinking a lot about Jamie Richards and his repeated parole denials. It's a tough subject ... ...Read More
    04/06/2024
    I’ve been thinking a lot about the ripple effects of Chief Mortell's tragic death on the community... ...Read More
    02/06/2024
    I was reading about Chief Mortell's tragic passing and couldn't help but reflect on the strength his... ...Read More
    09/01/2023
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