“A Mercy Killing”: The Electrocution of Baby Lawrence

WILDCIDE

In the mid-1940s, a small New England town was devastated by the mysterious death of an infant named Lawrence Noxon. Initially thought to be a horrible accident, suspicions quickly rose surrounding the six-month old’s death sparking an investigation into Lawrence’s father John Noxon, Jr. As local tensions rose, dark dynamics of the town came to light, and a sensationalized murder trial gripped the community. Some say baby Lawrence’s death was a terrible accident and tragedy. Others, well, they think that if John did kill his son, it was an act of mercy. An act driven by his compassion to free his son of a ‘terrible and terminal’ life of Down Syndrome. This case stirs up intense ethical, legal, and emotional views. What played into this supposed ‘mercy killing’? Have we progressed since mid-century mentality and medical expertise? Buckle up and hang out with us as we explore this very tragic and very uncomfortable case. *Make sure to tune in on Friday to our interview with author (and retired court reporter) James “Jim” Overmyer to hear him take us even deeper into the chasms of 1940’s high-society and backwards thinking wrapped up within this case.

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Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff ([e-mail]).

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Recommended Reading: If you’re intrigued by this episode and want to learn more, we highly recommend reading The Electrocution of Baby Lawrence: A Murder that Shook a New England Town by James Overmeyer. This powerful book not only brings a forgotten piece of history to life but also encourages deep reflection on themes of justice, innocence, and the human cost of systemic failure. Join the Conversation: Have thoughts on this episode? We’d love to hear from you! Share your reactions, questions, and reflections by reaching out to us on social media or leaving a comment on our website. Jim's book: https://www.amazon.com/Electrocution-Baby-Lawrence-Murder-England/dp/1538181290

References:

Overmyer, J. E. (2024). The electrocution of Baby Lawrence: A murder that shook a New England town. Rowman & Littlefield, an imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.