Search fatalities

John Buffington

Age : 67

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 01/08/2026

Location : Oak Circle

City : Princeton

County : Worcester

State : Massachusetts

Agency : Massachusetts State Police Cyber Crime Unit; U.S. Secret Service Cyber Task Force; Princeton Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Suicide

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 01/08/2026, Massachusetts State Police and partner agencies went to a home on Oak Circle in Princeton to serve a search warrant connected to online tips forwarded through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about suspected child sexual abuse material. Police announced themselves at the door. Police said John Buffington, 67, ran into a garage and shot himself. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early and Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said Buffington died from a self inflicted gunshot wound during the warrant service. Police said investigators entered the home and located evidence described by police as child sexual abuse material and other disturbing material, including sexually explicit material involving images of at least one child who police said was known to Buffington. Authorities said Buffington worked with Princeton Parks and Recreation as an after school instructor, teaching classes described as woodworking, primitive skills, and kite making, and authorities said he previously worked in an after school program in Lincoln until 2014. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said information had been reported to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families connected to the Lincoln program and said it did not substantiate.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/princeton-child-sexual-abuse-material-john-buffington/
https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-state-police-princeton-death-probe/69960911
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/massachusetts-state-police-princeton-death-investigation/3875172/
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/da-princeton-man-accused-possessing-child-sexual-abuse-materials-takes-own-life-during-arrest/75BTZH6IRVF2XGNIPK2UFL7ZEA/
https://www.mspnews.org/post/discovery-of-child-sexual-abuse-material-discovered-in-princeton-home-of-after-school-program-instru