ORANGE — A community is on edge following the death of a 94-year-old man during an apparent home invasion that also resulted in serious injury to the man’s wife Wednesday.
Thomas A. Harty of 581 East River St. was killed and Joanna Fisher, 77, was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment of throat wounds. The hospital declined to discuss her condition.
Following the attack, the victims’ vehicle, a gray/silver 2003 Toyota Corolla station wagon with license plate number M99949, was stolen, according to the Northwest District Attorney’s Office.
Neighbors next door and in nearby Leisure Woods Estates said Friday they were in disbelief when the heard the news and said the victims were a quiet couple.
One neighbor, David Burbank, said he moved in about a month and a half ago from Miller’s Woods and River Bend in Athol, and never formally introduced himself, though he said he and Harty often talked casually decades ago when they frequented a now-closed Athol restaurant named Cinnamon’s.
“I feel terrible that I didn’t go over and shake hands with him … because I just moved here,” he said sitting at his kitchen table late Friday morning.
Burbank said Harty, an avid hiker, had often shared his stories of the outdoors. Burbank also said he hopes authorities quickly capture whoever is responsible.
The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the DA’s office; Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services and the Orange Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Orange Police Department at 978-544-2128 or text a tip to 274637.
A woman who asked to be referred to by only the initials S.B. lives in Leisure Woods Estates, behind Harty’s home, and said the area has been as quiet as usual this week. But this crime, she said, means people will likely keep a more watchful eye of their surroundings in the coming weeks.
“We’re just all concerned and going to keep our doors locked a little more tightly and we’ll probably be looking at people a little more,” she said. “Occasionally, we get cars that we know shouldn’t be here.”
Orange Police Chief Craig Lundgren said his entire department is doing whatever possible to assist in the investigation. He could not comment on whether residents should be worried about their safety.
“The Orange Police Department and the State Police are doing everything in our power to keep the community safe,” he said. “That is our first and utmost responsibility.”
A truck from 24 Trauma, which operations manager Mike Wiseman said is a biohazardous cleaning company that specializes in these types of situations, was in the driveway at 581 East River St. on Friday.
Harty’s death was a topic of conversation among some patrons at the McDonald’s in Athol on Friday afternoon.
Chris and Al Noyes, owners of Grrr Gear at 334 East Main St. in Orange, said they have experienced an increase in business since news of the apparent home invasion was first reported. They said they made six pepper spray sales (which is about a week’s average) on Thursday and at least four people have signed up for the store’s firearm safety course, which they said is required to apply for a license to carry a firearm in the Commonwealth. They said people must be 18 or older to purchase pepper spray. Both said their customers have referenced the killing when purchasing pepper spray or signing up for the monthly course.
“People are nervous. It’s definitely on the tip of everybody’s tongues at this point,” Mr. Noyes said. “As much as we like the business, it’s never good when fear is driving sales.”
Mrs. Noyes said a customer came in on Thursday to have a scope put on a gun in response to the killing. She said “it stinks” to see people purchase items out of nothing more than fear.
Keith and Arlene Holden, who live in Leisure Woods Estates, said they left their home at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday because Mr. Holden was scheduled for surgery. He said his wife came home at night to sleep at home and noticed the police and media activity fewer than 100 yards from her home. He returned home at roughly 1 p.m. on Friday.
Mr. Holden said he grew up on Dexter Street and it was common practice to leave doors unlocked.
“It’s peaceful. It’s quiet here,” he said.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
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