Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley and Revere Police Chief Terence Reardon investigated a case that raised troubling questions following the murder of mental health counselor Stephanie Moulton, 25, of Peabody. The victim, who worked at a halfway house on Ocean Avenue in Revere, was killed allegedly by DeShawn James Chappell, 27, a Chelsea native and resident of the facility who has been identified as schizophrenic. Chappell has been transferred to Bridgewater State Mental Hospital, a secure lock-down facility, for psychiatric evaluation. According to one clinician who assessed him at Chelsea District Court, “It’s my opinion that Mr. Chappell doesn’t understand what’s going on around him,” Dr. Naomi Levitt told the court after meeting with the defendant. “I would recommend further evaluation … in conditions of strict security.” A former student at Chelsea High School, Chappell had shown no signs of violent tendencies to those who knew him previously or currently.
The events unfolded when Revere Police responded to a call around noon last Thursday regarding a small fire at the 110 Ocean Ave. halfway house. Officers discovered a gruesome, blood-stained scene suggesting serious criminal activity, though the victim was not initially at the location. The deliberately set fire had not spread significantly. During their investigation, authorities learned that Moulton, the facility’s mental health counselor employed by North Suffolk Mental Health, was missing. She was subsequently discovered deceased from multiple stab wounds behind a church in Lynn, where her body had been abandoned. Police then understood they were dealing with a homicide. A prominent search effort took place throughout Thursday afternoon, spanning from Lynn to Boston, before officers located the suspect’s vehicle in Dorchester. Chappell was apprehended that evening at his grandmother’s Dorchester residence. He faces a murder charge, though questions exist regarding his fitness to stand trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 10th.
The killing has drawn attention from Revere city leadership, particularly regarding the concentration of halfway houses operated by organizations such as North Suffolk Mental Health in their community—a comparable situation exists in Chelsea as well. Multiple Revere City Councillors this week expressed interest in establishing a cap on the number of such facilities permitted in their city and in reviewing safety protocols at these residences. “Other communities don’t have nearly as many and it’s because they go to every extent possible to prevent them coming into the community,” said Revere Councillor Arthur Guinassso. “We allowed it because they told us their clients were non-violent. Well, one got past them. They’re very smart, North Suffolk. They see a property up for sale and they’ll outbid everybody. They come in with a treasure chest of money and buy up whatever they want. “Maybe we need a quota on these facilities,” he continued. “We have to look very closely at it in a more serious vein than we have previously.”