MEDFORD, Mass. — Ever since convicted Level 3 sex offender Wayne Chapman was released from prison in August 2019, after decades of incarceration, people wanted to know where Chapman would live.
For a brief time, Chapman lived at a Boston homeless shelter, then at Boston Medical Center for a few months. But now, Wayne Chapman has been placed in a more permanent setting: he’s a resident at the Medford Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Winthrop Street.
Chapman spent decades behind bars, convicted of child rape. He has admitted to raping up to 100 boys. And he is a suspect in the 1976 disappearance and presumed murder of 10-year-old Andy Puglisi of Lawrence.
Chapman was transported to the Medford facility this week and is currently housed in the facility’s COVID unit, where all new residents must remain for a period of time before being moved to permanent housing.
Chapman’s attorney, Eric Tennen, told Boston 25 that despite Chapman’s criminal past, at 73 years old he is not a danger to anyone.
“He’s at an age where sex offenders do not pose a risk to re-offend. He is physically incapacitated in a way that he doesn’t pose as a risk to re-offend,” Tennen said. “He continues to be immobile and in need of care. Basically, he can’t take care of himself so he needs to be in a place where his medical needs can be met. Finally, they found a place where that can happen.”
Chapman’s new home is near three schools and a playground. and the facility also houses two other Level 3 sex offenders.
Medford Police told me they are closely watching all three of the men.
In a strange twist, Chapman is now living close to Melanie Perkins McLaughlin, the childhood friend of Andy Puglisi.
McLaughlin produced the award-winning HBO documentary, “Have You Seen Andy?” which examines Wayne Chapman’s tie to Andy Puglisi (he is the last person ever seen with Andy) and other boys.
“It is just bizarre I think if you scripted this you wouldn’t believe it,” McLaughlin told me. “Chapman and I have been dancing around the disappearance of my childhood friend, Andy Puglisi, for 45 years.”
McLaughlin is still looking into Wayne Chapman. She is also now a member of Medford’s School Committee.
Chapman’s placement in Medford has her concerned for herself, for school children, and the employees at the Medford Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. “He is a predator and always has been a predator. So having a predator amongst the vulnerable individuals, whether they are elderly or they are children, is very concerning to me,” she said.
The Medford Rehabilitation and Nursing Center did not return my calls for comment.
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