A 48-year-old Cedar Street man was arrested Thursday night by Groveland Police for the “shocking and brutal” murder of Groveland building inspector Patsy Schena. Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen and Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett confirmed the arrest Friday morning.
Leedell Graham was taken into custody at his home at 52 Cedar St., at 9:30 p.m. and booked at the Groveland police station before being held overnight at the Middleton House of Correction, Blodgett’s spokeswoman Carrie Kimball told WHAV in a statement. He is expected to be arraigned in Haverhill District Court Friday morning on one count of murder.
“We appreciate the public’s patience,” Gillen said. “I understand it that such an event causes anxiety and concern, however, it is imperative that information is limited while the investigation is unfolding in order to protect the investigation. I appreciate the efforts of the investigative team in bringing this individual to justice.”
As WHAV previously reported, 82-year-old Schena was found dead in his home at 20 Governors Road on June 21 in what Blodgett called a “shocking and brutal” murder—Groveland’s first since 1992.
According to Gillen, Schena was found “unresponsive” just before midnight Friday and “suffering from multiple wounds.” He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Mr. Schena was the town building inspector for many years. He was well-known and respected in the community,” Gillen said at the time. “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this loss and our thoughts are with his family.”
As Graham appears in court Friday, Schena’s family and friends plan to remember him tonight at a wake at the Kevin B. Comeau funeral home from 4-8 p.m. A funeral service will be said Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Groveland, with burial planned in Haverhill’s Linwood Cemetery.