Man found dead in Massachusetts freezer identified by family as John Wayne Potter a day after he went missing
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS: A Massachusetts man who was found dead in the freezer of a Lowell home has been identified by his family as John Wayne Potter, on Saturday, December 3. Authorities have not released the identity of the man whose body was discovered in a chest freezer in a basement on Coburn Street on Friday, December 2. However, the Potter family which had reported the missing of the 37-year-old were able to identify the body to be his.
The findings came a day after local police had issued a missing persons alert for John, who hadn't been seen since before Thanksgiving, NBC Boston reported. "As soon as I heard he was missing, I knew I knew something was wrong," his stepmother, Donna Potter, told the outlet. The body of John was discovered by Lowell police officers during a well-being check, as per People.
READ MORE
Who was Robert Hoagland? CT man missing since 2013 found dead in NY after living under ANOTHER name
Ridge Cole: Body found in search for missing man who was in Texas for son’s liver transplant
MISSING PERSON: John Wayne Potter, 36, is a white male, green eyes, brown hair, 5’7” & 150lbs. Mr. Potter was last seen in the area of Country Farms on Aiken Street, unknown clothing. Anyone with info regarding Mr. Potter, please call 978-937-3200. Thank you. LPD10 pic.twitter.com/w5L5lu1blw
— Lowell PD (@LowellPD) December 1, 2022
According to authorities, he was attacked and restrained by his roommates before he died. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has charged Michael Burke, 38, and Samantha Perry, 38, of Lowell with kidnapping in connection with the death of a 37-year-old man and alleges that they held him against his will inside their home on Coburn Street. As per court documents obtained by Boston 25, Burke and Perry claim that John was strangled by an unidentified third person who was holding them at gunpoint on November 23.
“He was in so much pain… and I couldn’t do anything about it.” Family identifies John Wayne Potter as the man who was tied up, strangled and then left in a freezer for over a week in Lowell. Hear from his relatives as they wait for answers only on @NBC10Boston. pic.twitter.com/N5Hah9NRJX
— Abbey Niezgoda NBC10 Boston (@AbbeyNBCBoston) December 6, 2022
According to court documents obtained by WCVB, "(Perry and Burke) forced (the victim) into a wooden chair and then bound him, binding his arms, body and mouth with wire, a green rope, an orange tie down strap and gray duct tape." In addition, Burke and Perry allege that a third individual used the rope to strangle John, who was taken to the basement freezer, where he remained for a week.
In the meantime, the Potter family is fundraising to cover John's funeral. John was remembered as an "amazing man who was full of love" and had a smile that could "light up the whole room." "A bright spark in this world, John touched the lives of so many and he will be missed dearly by all," the fundraiser description reads.
More than two decades ago, his sister, Tabitha Potter, was found raped, strangled and partially buried in a park in Lowell in 1999. Tabitha's murderer was a house painter who hanged himself to death a few days after the incident took place.