Dr. Ingolf “Harry” Tuerk, a former Boston urologist, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter on April 10, 2025, for the 2020 killing of his wife, Kathleen McLean. The jury rejected the prosecution’s charge of first-degree murder, sparing Tuerk a life sentence. He now faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 16.
During the trial, Tuerk admitted to strangling McLean during an argument at their Dover home. He claimed she struck him with a glass, triggering a violent response. Rather than calling for help, he disposed of her body in a nearby pond, weighing it down with rocks—a move prosecutors cited as evidence of intent and concealment.
The prosecution argued that the killing was financially motivated and premeditated, pointing to Tuerk’s deliberate actions after the incident. They also highlighted his past legal troubles, including a 2019 settlement over false medical billing claims totaling $150,000.
Once the chief of urology at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tuerk’s fall from grace has captured public attention, especially given the brutal nature of the crime and his medical stature. The case has reignited conversations around domestic violence and the abuse of power behind closed doors.
