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The 2001 murders on Harper's Island occurred over the span of one day, leaving six dead, and five brutally wounded. The suspected perpetrator of the murders is John Wakefield.

Contents 1 Attacks 2 Victims 3 Aftermath 4 Theories 5 Articles About The Murders

Attacks

Following a 17-year stint in prison, John Wakefield came to Harper's Island, apparently to seek revenge on Sheriff Charlie Mills for the arrest that led to his incarceration and to find the child he fathered with Sarah Mills.

First killed was civilian Harris Antonini. Deputies Joshua Aiken and Cole Harkin responded to the calls regarding the murder, and confronted Wakefield at the Marina. Wakefield successfully knocked both deputies unconscious and set off several explosions in the Marina, burning both deputies and four civilians. The deputies were immediately attended to by Sheriff Mills and Henry Dunn. Aiken was pronounced dead at the scene, while Harkin sustained third-degree burns.

Harbor Master Christopher Cullen noticed the scuffle between the deputies and Wakefield on his way to work, and decided to investigate. He was less that 500 yards away when the explosions occurred. A man following the incident came after him with a fishing knife. Cullen ran away into the woods, warning people on his way. In the woods, Cullen was impaled with a head spade.

The murders continued as victims Sarah Mills and Kate Seaver were stabbed, disemboweled and finally burned. Cullen, Mills, and Seaver were all hanged at a large tree near the Eastern Bluff, later dubbed the "Tree of Woe".

Before the gruesome discovery of the victims at the tree, Wakefield was witnessed dragging victim Randall Martin by a noose tied around his neck. Wakefield became enraged at Martin's struggling and killed him in front of Abby Mills, who was hiding nearby.

Wakefield disappeared following the murders. He was tracked by Sheriff Mills, who shot Wakefield several times, after which Wakefield fell over the Eastern Bluff.

Victims

Killed:

• Harris Antonini
• Deputy Joshua Aiken
• Christopher Cullen - Harbor Master; hanged at the "Tree of Woe"
• Randall Martin
• Sarah Mills - wife of Sheriff Charlie Mills and ex-girlfriend of Wakefield; hanged at the "Tree of Woe"
• Kate Seaver - secretary at the Sheriff's office; hanged at the "Tree of Woe"

Wounded:

• Deputy Cole Harkin
• Four unidentified victims

Aftermath

Following Wakefield's fall from the Eastern Bluff, rumors began circulating around the Island that Wakefield may have survived the fall, and panic struck the citizens.

After an extensive search party scoured the area near the Bluff and found nothing, the Sheriff later returned to the base of the bluff and claimed to find Wakefield's body. The body was then kept under guard at the local clinic, while waiting for an autopsy, due to threats made against it. Following the autopsy, which positively identified the body as Wakefield's, the body was buried in the woods near the Bluff since the Islanders did not want it buried in sacred ground.

A monument was later erected to immortalize the late Harbor Master, Cullen. [1]

Theories

Follow this link for theories about John Wakefield and the murders.

Articles About The Murders

• Mackle, Sparky (2001). "Wakefield Victim - Christopher Cullen, A Memoriam Of Our Beloved Harbor Master." Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 2 April 2009.
• Mackle, Sparky (2001). "Deputy Harkin Returns Home." Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 2 April 2009.
• Rubenstone, Caren (2001). "Six Dead And A Killer Possibly On The Loose". Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 17 March 2009.
• Tancinco, PJ (2 February 2001). "Sheriff Kills Suspect – John Wakefield" Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 20 March 2009.
• Tancinco, PJ (2001). "Wakefield - Inside The Mind Of A Killer." Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 26 March 2009.
• Whispers, J.J. (2001). "Wakefield's Body Found". Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 17 March 2009.
• Whispers, J.J. (2001). "Wakefield’s Tree Of Woe". Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 20 March 2009.
• Whispers, J.J. (2001). "Another Day of Mourning". Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 17 March 2009.
• Whispers, J.J. (7 February 2001). "Wakefield Murders Sheriff’s Wife on Killing Rampage." Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 26 March 2009.
• Whispers, J.J. (14 May 2001). "Wakefield - The Caged Beast." Harper's Globe (Harper's Island: Hometown Press). Archived from the original on 26 March 2009.