Massachusetts

2 Convicted in 2014 Murder of Avon, Mass. Man

Two Massachusetts men were convicted in the 2014 New Year's Day killing of an Avon man on Thursday, according to the Norfolk District Attorney.

James Feeney, 48, of Dedham, was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and conspiracy, while Scott Morrison, 51, of Norfolk, was convicted of manslaughter, aggravated kidnapping and conspiracy.

Authorities say Feeney and Morrison, pretending to be police officers, went to the home of 37-year-old James Robertson, flashed badges and told him they needed to escort him to a drug probation test. Robertson's remains were found in a wooded area of Upton nearly two years later when a hunter reported finding what he believed to be a human skull.

Robertson is said to have had struggled with drugs and alcohol and had been arrested for breaking and entering.

Feeney was sentenced to life in prison without parole on the murder charge, with concurrent sentences of 25-30 years and 4-5 years on the other counts. Morrison was sentenced to 25 to 30 years in state prison for the kidnapping, 6 to 8 years on the manslaughter and 4-5 years for the conspiracy charge, all concurrent.

Former Dedham police officer Michael Schoener, 40 at the time, pled not guilty to being an accessory before the fact of kidnapping, yet remains under indictment.

Schoener is accused of giving his badge, holster and handcuffs to Feeney, the man believed to have masterminded the kidnapping.

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