Pepperell, Massachusetts is a small, suburban town located in Middlesex County, known for its picturesque New England charm. Frank Bowen and his daughters Tina and Karen made their home in Pepperell. Just one year prior, they'd lost their wife and mother to a cruel and lingering battle with cancer. Frank, now a single father, was struggling—working long hours to keep a roof over their heads, often leaving the girls alone in the house. The girls, in their grief, tried reaching out to their mother—pleading for a sign. What they got... was something else entirely. At first, Frank dismissed their stories of these random noises and odd occurrences. Grief does strange things to the mind. But then came that night—December, 1986—when everything changed. After being tormented by these strange occurrences for months, the Bowens came face to face with what was causing the nightmare, but it was nothing like they expected. The Bowens were the victims of a sick mind. This sick mind would also go on to ruin the Gustafson family in the most horrific way imaginable.
Sources:
“Inside the Mind of Daniel LaPlante: From Outcast to Murderer” by 10 Minute Murder on December 18, 2024 (https://www.10minutemurder.com/blog/inside-the-mind-of-daniel-laplante-from-outcast-to-murderer/)
“Suspect in Slayings is Captured” by Kevin Cullen, Diego Ribadeneira and Doris Sue Wong in The Boston Globe on December 4, 1987
“The Infamous Case of Daniel LaPlante (Massachusetts)” by Dark Downeast (https://darkdowneast.com/daniellaplante/)
“Alleged Slayer of Former Barrington Woman Arraigned” by AYER (UPI) in The Berkshire Eagle on December 5, 1987
“Victim Memorials: Priscilla Gustafson, Abigail Gustafson, William Gustafson, and unborn baby” on NOVJM (https://teenkillers.org/memorials/massachusetts-victims/priscilla-gustafson-abigail-gustafson-william-gustafson-and-unborn-baby/)
“LaPlante Attempted to Cover Up Rape of Victim, Investigators Say” by Kevin Cullen in The Boston Globe on December 8, 1987
“Daniel LaPlante Hid In Walls Before Murdering Pregnant Woman and Her Children” by Cydney Contreras on Oxygen True Crime on July 28, 2023 (https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/daniel-laplante-murder-priscilla-gustafson-family)
“The Terrifying True Story of Daniel LaPlante” by Deji Akomolafe on HORROR in June 2024 (https://vocal.media/horror/the-terrifying-true-story-of-daniel-la-plante)
“This is the SCARIEST BASEMENT story you will ever hear” on MrBallen Podcast on November 27, 2024 (https://www.happyscribe.com/public/mrballen-podcast/this-is-the-scariest-basement-story-you-will-ever-hear)
“Bump in the Night” on YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE, Season 2, Episode 1 – Discovery+ in 2015
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