HYANNIS – HN has confirmed with a high ranking Barnstable Police official that the man shown in the above 2012 BPD booking photo is the same man accused of murdering Eric Christensen earlier this month.

Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe announced earlier today that Justin Peckham, age 29, currently showing an address in Boston, was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Eric Christensen at his Hyannis home just over two weeks ago. On the evening of Wednesday, December 8, 2021, police received a 911 call for a medical emergency at 91 Oakview Terrace. Upon arrival, police observed 50-year-old Eric Christensen on his kitchen floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Christensen was immediately rushed to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Justin Peckham, pictured in the above 2012 BPD booking photo, was arraigned earlier this morning in Barnstable District Court on one count of Murder and one count of Assault and Battery by means of the Discharge of a Firearm. He is currently being held without bail.

NEW INFORMATION – The following is a 2012 Barnstable Police media statement where Peckham was accused of leaving his one-year-old son behind in a getaway vehicle before trying to evade arrest by hiding in an underground drainpipe for 4 hours:

“Larceny suspect hides in a storm drain in an attempt to elude police…

A busy weekend for the Barnstable Police Patrol Division and Barnstable Street Crime Unit (SCU) included the arrest of a West Yarmouth man that fled into a “storm drain” attempting to make his escape. Life imitated art as Justin M Peckham, age 20, of West Yarmouth mimicked “John Rambo from First Blood” and “Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption”. However, PECKHAM attempted escape did not fare as well.

On 06/16/2012, at 5:49pm Barnstable Police Officer Scott Leger responded to Sears, Cape Cod Mall, Rte 132, Hyannis for a shoplifting suspect that had fled on foot from Sears Loss Prevention (SLP). PECKHAM was stopped as he attempted to load a 55” inch television set into a vehicle waiting outside. The vehicle was operated by a 20 yr male from South Yarmouth. Also in the vehicle was PECKHAM’s one (1) year old son.

When first encountered by SLP, PECKHAM was cooperative and produced his identification. When he heard that Barnstable Police Officers were already responding, PECKHAM jumped into the waiting vehicle and told his associate to drive away. The associate refused and PECKHAM took off on foot leaving his identification and one (1) year old son behind.

PECKHAM jumped over a “storm water pond” fence and could be heard splashing in the water. Responding police units and SLP searched the area but could not locate PECKHAM. It was later learned that PECKHAM had entered a storm drain and would hide out under ground in the storm drain pipes for almost four (4) hours.

At 9:30pm, BPD Dispatch received a call that a person was observed exiting a “man hole” in the CCM parking lot near Macy’s. The person observed exiting the “man hole” was later learned to be PECKHAM.

Barnstable Patrol Unit and SCU members responded to the area. PECKMAN was arrested by SCU Member Peter Ginnetty on Hiramar Road, Hyannis.

At the time of his arrest, PECKHAM had a “fist sized” rock on his person. PECKHAM told investigators he armed himself for fear rodents may try and attack him while he crawled through the storm drain system. He said he did not encounter any but did have to crawl over six (6) or so dead ones. PECKHAM had crawled over a couple hundred yards inside the storm drain pipe system in an attempt to avoid arrest and spent four (4) hours underground.

He reported no injuries and was transported to BPD for booking. He will be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Monday June 18th on a single charge of Larceny Over $250.00. A report was filed with the Department of Children and Family relating to PECKHAM leaving his one (1) son at Sears.”

Now accused of Murder, Peckham is due back in court next month on January 28, 2021 for a probable cause hearing in the Eric Christensen murder case…

* All suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law…

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