Man Charged with the Murder of His Romantic Partner Relationship Called ‘volatile’

A Winthrop man has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of another man he reportedly had a “volatile” romantic relationship.

John M. Lacoy, 47 of 429 Winthrop Street has been accused of allegedly stabbing his romantic partner in the heart, killing him, and leaving the remains beneath his Winthrop Street porch. Lacoy was held without bail at his arraignment last Friday morning, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
Assistant District Attorney Ursula Knight of Conley’s Homicide Unit told East Boston District Court Judge Roberto Ronquillo, Jr., Lacoy had “a volatile relationship” with the victim prior to the homicide, which is believed to have taken place in the bedroom of Lacoy’s apartment at 429 Winthrop St. more than two weeks ago.

Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty hailed the work of his detectives and detectives from the State Police Homicide Unit, for getting to the bottom of the case and finding Lacoy so quickly.

“There was a relationship between the victim and the suspect that went bad,” said Delehanty this week. “This was a domestic violence situation that unfortunately ended up with one of the men dead.”

Delehanty also credited the forensic work of the coroner’s office, and the resources that Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office brought to the investigation.

“Through the hard work of the detectives in our department and the State Police office and the forensic work of the coroners’ office we were able to resolve this case rather quickly,” said Chief Delehanty. “I’m confident that this investigation will result in a conviction, when this case goes to court.”

According to a statement released by Conley’s office, “the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the victim suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest and deemed his death a homicide.”

Though his remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, authorities are confident that they have identified him as 36-year old Casey Taylor, who had no fixed address at the time of his death.

The man’s last contact with his family was on July 25, when he made plans to see a family member about a week later. On July 31, Lacoy allegedly called a friend claiming to be at a beach and saying the man had drowned. On Aug. 3, six days before body was discovered, Lacoy allegedly sent a text message indicating that the man’s body had been discovered beneath his porch.
“He won’t be able to leech off me anymore,” it read.
Witnesses also told detectives that Lacoy had not been seen at his second-floor apartment since he stripped his bed and left “a couple of weeks ago.” Lacoy was taken into custody after an interview with State and Winthrop police. Lacoy gave a rapidly-changing statement during that interview, allegedly saying at first that he didn’t know the victim, later acknowledging their relationship, and going on to say that they had been in a fight during which the man bit him and after which he disappeared.
Lacoy is represented by attorney John Tardif.  He will return to court on September 9.