Massachusetts Foster Mother Convicted of 2015 Child Rape in Charlton

Heather Wright-Craft, a 52-year-old woman from Charlton, Massachusetts, was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old foster child in her care in 2015. She was convicted on charges of rape of a child aggravated by age difference and by her status as a mandated reporter, while being found not guilty of indecent assault and battery. The jury verdict led to the revocation of her $20,000 bail, and she was taken into custody immediately. The case was investigated thoroughly by the Charlton Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Ayres and support from Victim Witness Advocate Rachel Murphy. Wright-Craft was originally arrested in 2017 and indicted in 2018, and she is scheduled to be sentenced by Worcester Superior Court Judge Valerie Yarashus on October 21, 2025. District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. publicly acknowledged the diligent work of law enforcement and prosecution teams in securing the conviction.