In a chilling court case that has gripped Duxbury, Massachusetts, 22-year-old Jack Callahan stands accused of the murder of his father, Scott Callahan, 57, under tragic and bizarre circumstances.

On a fateful night in June 2021, after picking up his father from a Boston hotel where Scott had reportedly been drinking, the two headed back to Duxbury in a rideshare. During the drive back to their residence, Jack Callahan, who was 19 at the time, requested the driver stop at Island Creek Pond for a smoke, which unfortunately led to a violent clash between him and his father.

During Callahan’s 2021 arraignment, Plymouth Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham relayed that Jack had claimed his father assaulted him by hitting him in the face. Jack believed his father was under the influence of a demonic entity he referred to as “Dirty Dan” and thought he could rid his father of this possession through repeated immersions in water.

Buckingham detailed that Jack felt he was performing a baptismal rite in the water. He described supporting his father in the water as akin to cradling a baby, submerging him repeatedly. After several immersions, when his father began to cough and choke, Jack would raise his father’s head above water only to submerge it again when his father started to resist.

The son continued until the elder Callahan ceased to struggle, remaining afloat. Emergency responders found Scott Callahan submerged in Island Creek Pond. Scott Callahan was later declared dead at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth. An autopsy later confirmed the presence of water in his lungs and other injuries consistent with drowning.

Following the incident, police found Jack Callahan extremely agitated and distraught, at points hyperventilating to the extent of passing out.

During the trial, which started in mid-April 2024, prosecutors presented the surreal narrative: Jack, believing he was conducting a baptism, repeatedly submerged his father’s head underwater. 

The suspect’s defense painted a picture of a young man grappling with severe mental health challenges. His attorney, Kevin Reddington, emphasized Jack’s ongoing psychological struggles and previous substance abuse issues, suggesting these factors played a critical role in the night’s tragic outcome. Reddington requested a competency evaluation for Jack, highlighting his need for psychiatric care, which the court initially denied​.

Jack Callahan has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial has drawn significant attention, not only for the sensational nature of the allegations but also for the deeper questions it raises about mental health, substance abuse, and the pressures they can exert on familial relationships.

The outcome of this case may hinge on the interpretation of Jack’s mental state at the time of the incident, with expert testimonies likely playing a vital role in the final judgment.