Teenagers in Shirley, Massachusetts, discovered severed human body parts in Phoenix Pond on March 4, 2026, later identified as belonging to 69-year-old Peter Degan.
Discovery Details
The teens spotted what appeared to be a human leg protruding from the water near the Maritime Veterans Memorial Bridge while playing in the snow around 5:30 p.m. A police dive team recovered additional cleanly severed limbs the next day, all from the same individual, cut with a sharp instrument. Witnesses described the shocked teens reacting with horror, one overheard confirming “that’s a leg” with a right foot.
Victim Background
Degan, a convicted felon for 2019 money laundering and cocaine trafficking, had been released from MCI-Shirley medium-security prison on February 6 and was living in a pre-release house in Rockland. He was last seen alive on February 27, and identification came via fingerprints. Authorities believe the homicide was targeted, not random.
Investigation Status
Not all body parts have been recovered, and the cause of death remains undetermined as searches continue. Middlesex DA Marian Ryan and Shirley Police Chief Samuel Santiago urged tips via 978-425-2642; the case involves state police detectives.
