In October 1989 30 year old Carol Stuart was shot and killed in her car in Boston when she was with her husband Charles Stuart. She was seven months pregnant with their first child. Charles or Chuck Stuart was also shot in the stomach and called 911 from his car phone.

Once first responders reached Carol and Chuck they transported them to hospital. Chuck survived but sadly Carol died later that evening – her baby was delivered by C section weeks premature and baptised Christopher Stuart. Sadly he died 17 days later and both his and Carol’s deaths were treated as murder.

Chuck told police that a black man car jacked them and shot them both and so ensued a manhunt through the city of Boston with a man called Willie Bennet arrested for the murders of Carol and Christopher. Then Chuck’s brother Matthew blew the case wide open as he told police that it was Chuck who had shot and killed Carol to get her life insurance. Chuck took his own life the next day.

This is not only a story of a man who killed his family, but a story of deep deception, racism and a psychopath who nearly got away with murder.

This is the story of Carol and Christopher Stuart.

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Information and support 

• Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans 
• Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA 
• Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid 
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247 
• Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America 
• Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline 

References    

Murder in Boston Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Watch Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning | HBO Max

The Racist Hoax That Changed Boston - Reveal

Charles Stuart | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Could troubling police, media response to Charles Stuart murder happen again? — Harvard Gazette

Local Spotlight: 'Murder In Boston' : 1A : NPR

Charles Stuart and the murder in Boston that changed a city forever

GRAND JURY REASSESSING BOSTON MURDER HOAX - The Washington Post

Mayor Wu formally apologizes to Black men wrongly accused in 1989 murder of Carol Stuart | WBUR News

Willie Bennett: Where is Stuart Case Ex-Suspect Today?

I-Team Exclusive: Man Wrongly Accused In Notorious 1989 Murder Grants Rare Interview - CBS Boston

Boston pays $150,000 settlement to men wrongfully suspected in 1989 Stuart murder - CBS Boston

Credits 

Hosted and created by Clare Laxton @ladylaxton 

Produced by Clare Laxton 

Part of W!ZARD Studios @wizradio 

Music by Pixabay 

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