With the recent release of the Netflix show American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, interest has been reignited in the tragic events that took place in 2013. One of the key players in this story is Brendan Mess, the best friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Mess’s murder in September 2011 is believed to have played a significant role in Tsarnaev’s descent into radicalization and eventual involvement in the bombing.

Brendan Mess and Tamerlan Tsarnaev were close friends who shared a passion for boxing. They trained together at a gym in the Boston area, and Mess was known for his skill in the ring. However, their friendship took a dark turn when Mess was found brutally murdered in his apartment in Waltham, Massachusetts in September 2011. Mess’s body was discovered alongside those of his two roommates, Erik Weissman and Raphael Teken, and all three men had been bound, gagged, and had their throats slit.

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At the time, the murders were believed to be drug-related. Mess was known to have struggled with addiction, and it was speculated that he may have been involved in dealing drugs to support his habit. However, the investigation into the murders was later reopened in light of Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s involvement in the Boston Marathon bombing. It was discovered that Tsarnaev had been close friends with Mess and had even been a frequent visitor to the apartment where the murders took place.

The theory that Tsarnaev was involved in Mess’s murder was bolstered by the fact that the crime bore striking similarities to a triple homicide that had taken place in Waltham the previous year. In that case, three men were found in an apartment with their throats slit, and it was later discovered that the victims had been involved in the drug trade. Tsarnaev’s connection to both cases raised suspicions that he may have been involved in the murders, possibly as part of a larger plot to eliminate those involved in the drug trade in the area.

While Tsarnaev was never officially charged with Mess’s murder, the incident is believed to have played a significant role in his radicalization. It was around this time that Tsarnaev began to express extremist views and became increasingly involved in the Muslim community in the Boston area. His involvement in the bombing two years later is believed to have been motivated in part by a desire to strike back against the country he believed was responsible for the violence that had taken the life of his friend.

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The murder of Brendan Mess and the subsequent investigation into his death is a chilling reminder of the complex and tragic events that led up to the Boston Marathon bombing. While many questions still remain unanswered, the story of Mess’s life and death serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction and the devastating impact of violence on individuals and communities alike.