In the tranquil residential neighborhood of Beverly, Massachusetts’s Colonial Drive cul-de-sac, a gravely sad scene unfolded late Monday evening: a 58-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man, both longtime residents of the street, were found dead in what authorities are now calling an apparent murder-suicide. The pair were identified as Becky Lynn Center and John Patrick Nesbitt.
Minutes before 9:40 p.m. on Monday night, the home at the end of the quiet street became the focus of flashing lights and hushed urgency after someone placed an emergency call. When officers arrived, they found both Center and Nesbitt suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and the Beverly Police Department confirmed that, based on the evidence so far, the incident is being treated as a murder-suicide and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Neighbors, shaken and sorrowful, described the street as calm and unremarkable in recent years. One local resident told reporters, “I’m horrified … this neighborhood is a quiet neighborhood, and I’m heartsick over it.” Another said simply: “I cannot believe this happened here. My heart goes out to the family.”
Friends and acquaintances say they knew Center as a kind and reserved woman who lived with her husband until his death in 2022, and left behind two adult children. Nesbitt, according to neighbors, had known Center for some time and was living at the home with her. Beyond that, authorities say no further details — including motive or who pulled the trigger — are ready for public release while the investigation continues.
The scene itself, caught on video by local crews, showed the home surrounded by yellow police tape, multiple law-enforcement vehicles parked under streetlights, and investigators moving in and out late into the night. The home’s interior lights burned brightly inside the house, suggesting the moment of tragedy transpired with little warning.
As the community grapples with grief and questions, the DA’s office appealed for patience: the investigation is ongoing, and authorities have yet to release information about any weapon, possible suicide note or relationship timeline. For now, the focus remains on honoring the two lives lost, and supporting the family and friends affected by the tragedy. Center and Nesbitt will be remembered not just as victims in a criminal incident, but as neighbors, friends and colleagues whose sudden departure has left a hole in a place that once felt safe.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with thoughts of self-harm or distress, please consider reaching out for help.
