An Everett man has been found guilty for the 2007 murder of his ex-wife, Dorothy Philbrook, age 65, also of Everett, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public.
George Philbrook, age 70, was found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court Jury of murder, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and possession of a defaced firearm during the commission of a felony following a month long trial in Woburn Superior Court.
Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman sentenced Philbrook to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for the murder of his wife, and a concurrent prison sentence on the firearms charges.
“With today’s verdict, George Philbrook has been found guilty of shooting his defenseless ex-wife, Dorothy, in front of their friends and neighbors, in yet another disturbing case of a domestic dispute escalating into extreme violence and tragedy in our community,” District Attorney Leone said. “I commend the Everett, Malden and State Police departments, who worked together to quickly apprehend the defendant, found carrying a loaded weapon and more than 50 rounds of ammunition, and thereby ensure that he did not harm any other persons and then pursued a thorough investigation of this case. I commend the persistence and resolve of the detectives and the trial team over the last 6 years. ”
According to authorities, at approximately 8:22 p.m. on Friday, August 17, 2007, police responded to a reported shooting at 34 Sea Street in Everett. When police arrived, they found the victim lying outside her house, suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds to her head, back and neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Everett Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office initiated an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, speaking with witnesses in the area and gathering evidence at the scene. Through several eyewitness reports, George Philbrook was identified as the defendant and authorities began an investigation into his whereabouts.
Later in the evening on August 17, 2007 at approximately 9:15 p.m., Malden police located the defendant at a liquor store in Malden purchasing alcohol and cigarettes. Officers approached him and after a struggle, placed him under arrest in connection with the shooting. Police seized from Philbrook a fully-loaded semi-automatic firearm, an extra clip of ammunition, and an additional 50 rounds of ammunition.
According to several people with knowledge of the circumstances, the victim and defendant were divorced for a number of years but lived together for the past 25 years at the Sea Street residence.
The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the case are Suzanne Kontz and Kerry Collins. The Victim Witness Advocates are Shawn MacMaster and Rani Scott. The lead investigators are Detective Scott Stalbaum of the Everett Police and Sergeant Robert Manning of the Massachusetts State Police.
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