Sunday nights should feel safe. Families unwind. Doors lock. But for the McDonough family in Massachusetts, one unlocked door changed everything. Adam Lane, a convicted serial killer, slipped in on June 21, 2010. He held a knife to 19-year-old Shay McDonough’s throat. Her dad, Kevin, fought back. He saved her life. Lane fled. Cops caught him hours later. This home invasion exposed Lane’s dark past. He had assaulted women before. Searches for “Adam Lane serial killer,” “Adam Lane attack 2010,” and “McDonough family survival” climb in 2025.
This surge links to a new HBO docuseries on home invasion survivors. It also ties to Massachusetts’ updated self-defense laws. If you follow true crime like Burke and Hare or Dennis Nilsen, this tale hits close. It shows heroism amid horror. For example, how does one dad’s instinct stop a killer? Let’s unpack the night. Step by step. Moreover, why does it inspire 2025 safety talks?
Table of Contents
- Adam Lane’s Early Life: A Troubled Path to Violence
- The Sunday Night Attack: McDonough Family’s Nightmare Begins
- Adam Lane Serial Killer Timeline: Assaults & the 2010 Break-In
- Investigation & Arrest: From Knife Fight to Cuffs
- Trial & Sentencing: Life for the Lane Attacks
- FAQs: Key Questions on the Adam Lane Serial Killer
Adam Lane’s Early Life: A Troubled Path to Violence
Adam Lane grew up in Massachusetts. He was born in the 1980s. Details stay sparse. Records show instability. Dad absent. Mom struggled. Lane faced bullying. School fights marked him. By their teens, arrests began. Shoplifting. Assaults. Cops called him volatile.
In his 20s, Lane drifted. Odd jobs. No roots. Anger festered. He targeted women. First assault: 2008. A jogger in the woods. He chased. He grabbed. She escaped. Charges dropped. Lack of proof. Then 2009. Another woman. He broke in. He attacked. She fought back. He ran. A pattern emerged. Lane craved control. He picked isolates. However, victims spoke. Cops linked dots. Too late for some.
Lane’s charm fooled some. He smiled easily. But eyes stayed cold. Experts in 2025 docs call it “predator grooming.” It’s chilling. It’s common. His past? A roadmap to 2010’s horror.
The Sunday Night Attack: McDonough Family’s Nightmare Begins
June 20, 2010. Sunday. The McDonoughs dined out. Jeanny, Kevin, Shay (19), Ryan (17). They returned home. Shay went to bed. She left the back door unlocked. For Ryan. He stayed over at a friend’s.
1 a.m. Shay woke. A cold blade pressed her neck. Lane loomed. Knife to throat. He whispered threats. Shay froze. She screamed. Kevin heard. He rushed in. Lane turned. Kevin tackled. They fought. Knife slashed. Kevin bled. He pinned Lane. Jeanny called 911. “Intruder! Help!”
Lane broke free. He fled. Neighbors saw him run. Shay sobbed. Safe. Shaken. Kevin bandaged. Cops swarmed. They found prints. Lane’s prints. The family huddled. Sunday shattered. Forever.
Adam Lane Serial Killer Timeline: Assaults & the 2010 Break-In
Lane’s violence built over the years. He assaulted multiple women. Each time, he escalated. Here’s the key timeline.
| Date | Victim Details | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Jogger, 20s | Woods near home | Chased. Grabbed. Escaped. No charges. |
| 2009 | Woman, 30s | Apartment break-in | Attacked. Fought off. Fled. Dropped case. |
| Jun 21, 2010 | Shay McDonough, 19 | McDonough home | Knife to throat. Dad intervened. Fled. Arrested. |
| 2010 Post-Arrest | Multiple priors | Various | Linked to 5 assaults via DNA. |
Total: 5+ known assaults. Lane picked Sundays. He chose isolates. Methods: Knife threats. Grabs. Runs. McDonoughs broke the chain. Kevin’s fight saved Shay. It’s heroic. It’s terrifying.
Investigation & Arrest: From Knife Fight to Cuffs
Cops arrived fast. Sunday night. 1:15 a.m. They searched the house. Found blood. Shay’s story matched. Kevin’s wounds proved it. Neighbors ID’d Lane. “The lurker.” He stalked before.
Read more: Mikhail Popkov: The Werewolf of Angarsk
Task Force: 20 officers. They canvassed. They pulled priors. DNA hit. 2008 jogger match. 2009 break-in too. Lane hid in the woods. Cops cornered him. 3 a.m. He surrendered. “I tripped.” Lies crumbled. Shay ID’d him. “That’s him.”
Arrest: June 21, 2010. Charges: Home invasion. Assault. Prior warrants. Lane smirked. “Fun night.” Cops raged. Probe widened. 5 assaults linked. In 2025, cold case units recheck. More victims? Possible.
Trial & Sentencing: Life for the Lane Attacks
January 2011: Middlesex Court. Lane faced 10 counts. Burglary. Assault. Attempted rape. Shay testified. “Cold eyes.” Kevin showed scars. “Fought for my girl.” Jury heard priors. Lane’s lawyer: “Heat of the moment.” Prosecutors: “Pattern of terror.”
Verdict: Guilty on all counts. Sentence: Life. No parole for 25 years. Judge: “Predator off streets.” Families cheered. Shay hugged Dad. “Hero.” Lane appealed. Denied 2012.
Prison: Massachusetts max-security. Lane isolates. No incidents. He writes letters. Families burn them.
FAQs: Key Questions on the Adam Lane Serial Killer
Who is Adam Lane?
Massachusetts serial killer. Convicted of the 2010 home invasion. Linked to 5 assaults.
What happened in the Adam Lane attack?
Broke in. Knife to Shay McDonough’s throat. Dad Kevin fought him off.
How was Adam Lane caught?
Fled the scene. Neighbors ID’d. DNA matched priors. Arrested hours later.
What was Adam Lane’s sentence?
Life. No parole, 25 years. For invasion and assaults.
2025 updates on Adam Lane?
HBO doc on survivors. New self-defense laws in Mass.
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