New Hampshire Teen Accused of Killing Sister-in-Law, Nephews, Ages 1 and 4

A New Hampshire teen has been charged in connection with the murder of his sister-in-law and his two young nephews, ages 1 and 4, in August 2022, according to authorities.

On Oct. 4, Eric Sweeney, 17, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Kassandra Sweeney, 25, and her two sons, 4-year-old Benjamin Sweeney, and 1-year-old Mason Sweeney.

Autopsies revealed each of the victims died from a single gunshot inside their Northfield home on Aug. 3, 2022, and their manners of death were ruled homicides, MassLive reported.

Eric was identified as Kassandra Sweeney’s brother-in-law, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

The Merrimack County Grand Jury indicted him in connection with the triple homicide. He also faces one count of falsifying physical evidence, MassLive reported.

Sweeney allegedly tried to alter, destroy, conceal or get rid of the handgun used in the crime, a Taurus .40 caliber handgun, in order to hinder the investigation, officials said.

The teen is currently being held and an arraignment has not yet been scheduled.

Days before the murders occurred, Kassandra’s husband, Sean Sweeney, told authorities he was worried about his wife’s and children’s safety, MassLive reported.

According to police logs, Sean found weapons in his garage and nearby woods 12 days before the killings. He told police an unnamed individual’s behavior had him worried about his family’s safety, MassLive reported.

Sean called police twice in the two months leading up to his family’s slaying. The calls focused on his concern about the weapons he found, as well as the theft of his vehicle.

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The police logs also provided details about an unidentified person who was either living with the Sweeneys, or would visit them regularly, MassLive reported.

Sean told police in the call that he was concerned about this individual’s behavior, saying the person had “been making strange comments around the house,” according to authorities.

During the investigation, authorities said Sean was being “very cooperative and helpful.”