Crime & Safety
Salem Police Arrest 'Person Of Interest' In Death Of Peabody Man
The body of 21-year-old Joseph Brancato, a Peabody native, was found off Interstate 95 in Canton in November
SALEM, MA -- Police are describing a Marine recruiter arrested Tuesday in Salem as a "person of interest" in the death of 21-year-old Peabody native Joseph Brancato. Salem Police arrested Frank Lipka III, 39,on a warrant. Brancato's body was found in November off of Interstate 95 in Canton.
Lipka, who was already under house arrest for allegedly threatening a pizza delivery driver in Boston in September, has not been charged. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to notify the state's probation department and his probation officer that he had moved to Salem, according to court records.
Brancato grew up in Peabody but finished high school in Winthrop. He was living with Lipka and planning to enlist in the Marines at the time of his disappearance.
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Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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