McCabe Friends and Family Shocked, Saddened By Murder Trial Verdict

More than four decades after Johnny McCabe's body was found bound and gagged in a vacant lot in Lowell, friends and the family find themselves still seeking justice for the Tewksbury teen.

On Friday, a Middlesex Superior Court jury found Michael Ferreira "Not Guilty" in connection with McCabe's death. The verdict shocked and horrified membrs of the McCabe family, their friends and supporters.

Here is a sampling of some of the reactions to the verdict from the story on Tewksbury Patch, the Tewksbury Patch Facebook Page and the John McCabe Tribute Page on Facebook.

Deborah Anne McCabe-Atamanchuk: Our dad has made it his crusade to bring John s murderer to justice. Brown confessed, being there and helping hold him down. The jury finds reasonable doubt? Where is justice? As a famous u tube artist said' hide your kids hide your wife' there are some crazy thinking humans out there. NOT GUILTY!!!

Roberta Donovan: The family is in shock right now, we can't believe what has happened!

Who Me: It’s Prosecutor's Incompetence and over-reach. I’ve seen this blunder more and more lately. The only verdicts the Jury was allowed was guilty of First Degree or Innocent. He should have been charge with Murder in the 2nd or Manslaughter. You knew first degree was going to be hard to sell to the Jury.

Patty: So disappointed for the McCabes.

Kathleen Brothers: My heart goes out to the McCabe family. After all these years of suffering now another blow. Justice system is surely lacking.

Kevin: This is hard to believe. How stupid can a group of people be ? One of the participants says that he was there and that the defendant was also there and did it and he is acquitted ? There could not be any reasonable doubt. And they are still going to try the third guy ? Our justice system is lacking. Sad.

Brooke: Absolutely disgusting. I hope all 3 lying scumbags get what's coming to them.

Robert Poulin: It is not sitting well with anyone except the defendant, his family and his counsel. Those responsible will go to their graves knowing they are not innocent and have inflicted so much pain and suffering on the family. Those too that "knew" but never came forward. I too cannot wrap my brain around what that jury could have been thinking.

Rachel Cinelli: Wow. just wow. I'm at a complete loss for words. what he did was unspeakable. how any1 could set him loose jus blows my mind. no justice served. my thoughts are with the poor McCabe family. I bet his parents would have died much happier knowing that scumbag got what he deserved. So sad.

Kathryn Thomas Cortelyou: Justice for all? I think not! Travesty of justice more like it.

Carol: He's still guilty.leave it to the good liberal citizens of Massachusetts to put a killer back on the streets of nh. All I can say. My language far to filthy to post more.

Brenda Bousquet McCarthy: omg .... there is no justice .... so sorry to the McCabe family ....