Authorities believe a man killed his 8-year-old son before killing himself; he was a person of interest in the 2019 disappearance of the boy’s mother.
A man and a child were found dead Friday in an apparent murder-suicide at a home in New Bedford, Massachusetts, officials said.
The bodies of George Scott III and 8-year-old Dante Hazard were found Friday morning at Scott's home on Phillips Road, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.
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Scott was a person of interest in the disappearance of Lisa Hazard, of Fall River, who was last seen in 2019, according to Quinn. He noted that the home had been searched last month, and that the search warrants were sealed by a judge.
Dante Hazard, who just turned 8 Thursday, was the son of Scott and Lisa Hazard.
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"He was playful," said next-door neighbor Kevin Forward. "He would run around the property and throw the ball around with his dad. Can't even believe it."
Lisa Hazard was last seen leaving Scott's home visiting her son three years ago.
"She was a great friend," said Rochelle Valois. "She was devoted to her son, she was bubbly and full of life."
Valois was Lisa Hazard's close friend and used to babysit Dante.
"He was full of life and love, just like his mother," said Valois.
She now believes Scott had something to do with Lisa's disappearance.
"I definitely am thinking that he did something to her, because even when she first went missing, I didn't think that she'd just up and leave her son like that," said Valois. "And not even try to contact her family."
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
Hazard was last seen in New Bedford on March 3, 2019, according to the Bristol County Distrit Attorney's Office.
"After leaving the residence of her son’s father located at 1643 Phillips Rd, New Bedford, she was supposed to go to a drug rehabilitation center. She was never seen after that time," reads Hazard's missing person's case on the DA's website.
Hazard was 28 at the time of her disappearance.
Investigators had just executed a search warrant at the home two and half weeks ago. What brought them there four years after she was last seen is unknown.
The district attorney hasn't said what, if anything, was found in the search.
"Evidence has been recovered from the scene that involves several knives," Quinn said. "There appear to be serious injuries to the boy's body."
Scott was the son of Red Sox Hall of Famer George Boomer Scott, who played in Boston from 1966 through 1971 and again between 1977 and 1979.
