Photo: Go Fund Me
A shocking case from Stow, Massachusetts, has led to 20-year-old Shane Curry being charged with the murder of his 17-year-old partner, Nevaeh Goddard, who was stabbed to death on April 5. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese announced the charges on September 6, following an extensive investigation.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded when Curry’s mother, concerned for her son’s well-being, went to the Stow police station and requested a welfare check at his residence, which he shared with Goddard. Upon arriving, officers found Curry barricaded inside a bedroom. Chief Sallese, who had previously helped Curry through a mental health crisis, was called to assist due to his rapport with the suspect.
Despite repeated attempts to communicate, Curry cracked open the door slightly and shouted, “Get the f— out, you creep,” before slamming it shut again, according to the indictment. When Sallese persisted, the door opened just enough to reveal Curry and Goddard lying motionless on a mattress on the floor.
Police quickly noticed that Goddard, described as bruised and unresponsive, had multiple injuries. Officers uncovered the victim’s body and determined that she had been stabbed. Curry was immediately taken into custody, later admitting to police that he and Goddard had been in a violent altercation. “We had a brawl-level argument,” Curry reportedly said. He further explained that during the assault, he realized hitting Goddard was ineffective, so he resorted to using a sword to stab her, told WJAR
Officers found both a sword and a kitchen knife in the room. Curry, who referred to Goddard as his “twin flame,” confessed to stabbing her multiple times, including in the abdomen. “It was horrifying,” Curry allegedly said when recounting the incident.
An autopsy revealed that Goddard sustained stab wounds to the neck, torso, liver, and arms. Curry also attempted suicide after realizing the gravity of his actions, telling police he had cut his arms once he understood Goddard was “dead, dead.”
Following the arrest, Curry was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail. Goddard’s death has devastated the LGBTQ community, with GLAAD noting that Goddard, who identified as nonbinary and used both they and she pronouns, had faced significant hardships throughout their life, including surviving childhood abuse and time in foster care.
Heather Coyne, the mother of Goddard’s fiancée, described Nevaeh as having a “genuine, pure, loving, caring soul.” Goddard’s family has since started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses.
