Episode 182: James Purrington

Come on a journey 200 years in the past as Katie and Liz explore another historic tragedy on this week’s episode of True Crime New England. In the very first years of the 19th century, Captain James Purrington moved his wife and eight children to start anew on a small farm in Augusta, Maine. James was generally well-respected in the community, known to be hard-working and honest, especially as the appointed captain of the Bowdoinham militia. So imagine the surprise of the community when one fateful July night in 1806, James’ 17-year-old son knocks on the door of his neighbor’s home, covered in blood, telling the tale of a massacre at his home. Tune in to hear the details of the familicide and the theories that come along with all of the unknown.