- Anna Meeker & Adelaide Sears 1957
Anna Meeker & Adelaide Sears
On March 19, 1957, at 11:04 AM Anna Meeker (72) and her daughter Adelaide Sears (48) were discovered dead inside Anna's home on Plymouth Street. Anna was discovered in her living room bludgeoned to death, and Adelaide was discovered in the kitchen. Investigators also determined the gas stove was intentionally turned on. The phone lines to the home had been destroyed.
During the investigation a 14”-long length of iron pipe was found in a field a short distance away. They also found blood and hair on the “slightly rusty” metal pipe, as well as a white paint smear. No fingerprints, no signs of forced entry into the home, led the deaths to be ruled as a homicide. They were buried in the family plot in the Titicut Parish Cemetery in Middleboro along with Anna's husband Robert E. Meeker and her daughter Helen C. Meeker. Their son Brian Sears was at Army basic training at the time of the murders.
Anthony Sears
Anthony (50), Adelaide's husband, became a person of interest and was wanted for questioning regarding the murders. Investigators had learned about tension between Anthony and the victims. Anna has recently consulted with an attorney to solidify that Anthony wouldn't receive her property upon her death. Anthony was last seen the night of the murders in West Bridgewater hitchhiking.
The investigation and search for Anthony went cold. The FBI was consulted about the case and began a national search.
Anthony Sears Captured 1965
Anthony was arrested in Yuma Arizona for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was released since authorities in Yuma has no knowledge Anthony was wanted by the FBI. Anthony disappears again. In June of 1957, a grand jury in Massachusetts indicted Anthony Sears for the double murders.
In February 1965 Anthony, now 60, was apprehended in Tampa Florida. He was arrested for vagrancy. Massachusetts authorities travelled to Florida to return Anthony back to Massachusetts.
He was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court in Brockton on February 17, 1965, at which time he plead not guilty to the two (2) charges of murder. Court appointed psychologists testified that Anthony suffered from “senility and lapse of memory” and he was ordered held without bail, to be temporarily committed to the Bridgewater Correctional Institute.
In September 1965, Anthony was declared incompetent to stand trial and was remanded to Foxboro State Hospital indefinitely. Anthony was granted privileges to walk around the ward and wasn't confined to a cell.
On June 11, 1966, Anthony Sears was documented as being not present and accounted for at final bed check at Foxboro State Hospital. A local and nationwide search began again to locate Anthony Sears.
Anthony Sears
Anthony has never been captured and is presumed dead
On March 19, 1957, at 11:04 AM Anna Meeker (72) and her daughter Adelaide Sears (48) were discovered dead inside Anna's home on Plymouth Street. Anna was discovered in her living room bludgeoned to death, and Adelaide was discovered in the kitchen. Investigators also determined the gas stove was intentionally turned on. The phone lines to the home had been destroyed.
During the investigation a 14”-long length of iron pipe was found in a field a short distance away. They also found blood and hair on the “slightly rusty” metal pipe, as well as a white paint smear. No fingerprints, no signs of forced entry into the home, led the deaths to be ruled as a homicide. They were buried in the family plot in the Titicut Parish Cemetery in Middleboro along with Anna's husband Robert E. Meeker and her daughter Helen C. Meeker. Their son Brian Sears was at Army basic training at the time of the murders.
Anthony Sears
Anthony (50), Adelaide's husband, became a person of interest and was wanted for questioning regarding the murders. Investigators had learned about tension between Anthony and the victims. Anna has recently consulted with an attorney to solidify that Anthony wouldn't receive her property upon her death. Anthony was last seen the night of the murders in West Bridgewater hitchhiking.
The investigation and search for Anthony went cold. The FBI was consulted about the case and began a national search.
Anthony Sears Captured 1965
Anthony was arrested in Yuma Arizona for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was released since authorities in Yuma has no knowledge Anthony was wanted by the FBI. Anthony disappears again. In June of 1957, a grand jury in Massachusetts indicted Anthony Sears for the double murders.
In February 1965 Anthony, now 60, was apprehended in Tampa Florida. He was arrested for vagrancy. Massachusetts authorities travelled to Florida to return Anthony back to Massachusetts.
He was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court in Brockton on February 17, 1965, at which time he plead not guilty to the two (2) charges of murder. Court appointed psychologists testified that Anthony suffered from “senility and lapse of memory” and he was ordered held without bail, to be temporarily committed to the Bridgewater Correctional Institute.
In September 1965, Anthony was declared incompetent to stand trial and was remanded to Foxboro State Hospital indefinitely. Anthony was granted privileges to walk around the ward and wasn't confined to a cell.
On June 11, 1966, Anthony Sears was documented as being not present and accounted for at final bed check at Foxboro State Hospital. A local and nationwide search began again to locate Anthony Sears.
Anthony Sears
Anthony has never been captured and is presumed dead