Weymouth homicide: Kelly Shaw held on $100,000 bail in connection with case

Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger
Updated ·3 min read

QUINCY − A second person of interest in what officials have called an "apparent homicide" was arraigned today in Quincy District Court on charges of check fraud, misleading police, larceny over $1,200 and forgery of a Registry of Motor Vehicles document.

Kelly Shaw, 44, was ordered held on $100,000 bail by Quincy District Court Judge Neil Hourihan. Assistant District Attorney Aubrey Burr said Shaw moved in with Christine Mello, of 34 Lake St., at some point in January. Mello was found dead in the basement of the Lake Street home she rented in Weymouth on Monday, April 1.

Burr said that Mello had been dead "for quite some time" when authorities discovered her body.

Burr said that video surveillance captured Shaw using checks that Mello received as the beneficiary of a trust. Mello's mother died in January, leaving her as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Kelly Shaw, 44, was arraigned on charges including larceny valued over $1,200, uttering forged checks and other offences at the Quincy District Court. Officials have name her a person of interest in the death of Christine Mello, 56, of Weymouth.
Kelly Shaw, 44, was arraigned on charges including larceny valued over $1,200, uttering forged checks and other offences at the Quincy District Court. Officials have name her a person of interest in the death of Christine Mello, 56, of Weymouth.

Officials say Kelly Shaw and John Harper were both spending Mello's money

Mello was last seen by friends and family in February. Burr said she didn't pay her rent for February and March, and during this period, Shaw and her associate, John Harper, who was arraigned Thursday and held on $55,000 bail, were using Mello's debit card to make purchases at stores throughout Weymouth, Quincy and Braintree.

Shaw was also involved in the sale of Mello's 2017 Buick Lacrosse, Burr said. Shaw told the buyer that she inherited the vehicle from a deceased aunt, according to Burr.

In her request for $150,000 cash bail, Burr noted Shaw has failed to to report to prior court summons.

Kelly Shaw, 44, was arraigned on charges including larceny valued over $1,200, uttering forged checks and other offences at the Quincy District Court. Officials have name her a person of interest in the death of Christine Mello, 56, of Weymouth.
Kelly Shaw, 44, was arraigned on charges including larceny valued over $1,200, uttering forged checks and other offences at the Quincy District Court. Officials have name her a person of interest in the death of Christine Mello, 56, of Weymouth.

"Right now she is charged with these offenses," Burr said. "But the investigation is ongoing and will continue."

Defense attorney Neil Madden said that Shaw grew up in Quincy and has lived there for her entire life. Shaw simply rented a room from Mello, and the two had no further relationship, Madden said.

Madden contested Burr's assertion that Shaw was involved in the sale of Mello's car. He said that Harper, not Shaw, had sold the car and transferred the title.

32-34 Lake Street Weymouth the scene of a suspected homicide. Wednesday April 3, 2024
32-34 Lake Street Weymouth the scene of a suspected homicide. Wednesday April 3, 2024

"At best, there's evidence possibly showing she used a debit card in certain places after March 1," Madden said.

Madden said there is little to link Shaw to Mello's death, noting that police found Shaw at the Lake Street residence during wellness checks in March. He said that the prosecution has shown "nothing nefarious" about the discovery of Mello's body.

More: More details come out in Harper's arraignment

Details from the police report

Security footage shows both Shaw and Harper using Mello's debit card at various stores and ATMs between March 2 and March 25, the police report says.

On March 20, Shaw is seen depositing a $2,000 check made out to Mello into a checking account at Eastern Bank in Weymouth, according to the report. Weymouth Detective Lindsay Browning wrote that Shaw initially denied but later admitted to signing and depositing the check.

On March 24, Harper and Shaw were identified on security footage making four withdrawals from Mello's checking account using her debit card at the Commercial Street 7-Eleven in Weymouth, each one for $203.50, according to the police report.

Authorities have named John “Jack” Harper, 45, a person of interest in the death of Weymouth resident Christine Mello. He was arraigned on charges related to the theft of Mello's debit card and car on April 4, 2024 at Quincy District Court.
Authorities have named John “Jack” Harper, 45, a person of interest in the death of Weymouth resident Christine Mello. He was arraigned on charges related to the theft of Mello's debit card and car on April 4, 2024 at Quincy District Court.

In all, the report lists at least 27 transactions with Mello's card at locations in Weymouth and Quincy between March 2 and March 25. Eight of these have corresponding video footage of Harper or Shaw, or both, the report says. In all, the police report outlines a total of about $2,850 in purchases and withdrawals.

When Browning asked Shaw about her access to Mello's finances, Shaw initially denied having access to her bank account or bank cards. She later changed her story, saying that Mello provided her with her debit card and PIN number and allowed her to use it, the report says.

This is a developing story. The Patriot Ledger will update this story.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Kelly Shaw held on bail in case of suspected killing of Weymouth woman