Crime & Safety

Woburn Man ID'd As Boston Homicide Victim By BPD

Barry Whelan, 46, was reportedly found with an abrasion on the back of his head on March 17. He was taken off life support on Friday.

The BPD has identified Woburn's Barry Whelan as the victim in a March 17 incident that is being investigated as a homicide. Whelan was found in the area of 17 Winter St. with an abrasion on the back of his head. He succumbed to his injuries last Friday.
The BPD has identified Woburn's Barry Whelan as the victim in a March 17 incident that is being investigated as a homicide. Whelan was found in the area of 17 Winter St. with an abrasion on the back of his head. He succumbed to his injuries last Friday. (Haley Cornell/Patch)

BOSTON, MA — Boston police have identified a Woburn man as the victim of a March 17 incident the department said is being investigated as a homicide.

Barry Whelan, 46, was taken off life support on Friday, police said. The Chief Medical Examiner determined Whelan died from blunt force trauma and ruled the death a homicide.

According to police reports, at about 9 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, officers assigned to District A-1 (Downtown) came across Whelan when responding to a call about a man down in the area of 17 Winter Street.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Boston 25 News reported that officers found Whelan laying face up near a TD Bank ATM. The station reported that arriving officers saw no obvious injuries, but an EMS worker said a small abrasion on the back of Whelan's head was visible.

Whelan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries last week.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The BPD said it is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, and has asked anyone with information to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470.

Community members wishing to help with the investigation but remain anonymous can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word 'TIP' to CRIME (27463).


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