Rory Macleod, Grammy-Nominated Musician, Tragically Killed by Driver with a History of Traffic Violations and Illegal Drugs

Grammy-Nominated Musician Roderick Rory Macleod; Shannon N. Godbout’s vehicle at the scene of the crash.
Credit :

Kerry Quinn; Hopkinton Police Department Facebook

NEED TO KNOW

• Musician Roderick ‘Rory’ Macleod was hit and killed by a driver on Dec. 6
• Macleod was walking his dogs when a driver left her lane and hit him with her SUV
• Shannon Godbout, who has more than 100 previous arrests, was taken into police custody and subsequently transported to the hospital

A tragic accident in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, claimed the life of Grammy-nominated musician Roderick “Rory” Macleod on December 6. According to a press release from the Hopkinton Police Department, Macleod was walking his dogs in the early morning when he was struck by a vehicle.

The 70-year-old musician was transported to Rhode Island Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. Police stated, “Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.”

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 41-year-old Shannon Godbout, reportedly left her lane and crashed into several objects, including two telephone poles, before hitting Macleod.

Authorities discovered that Godbout was in possession of “numerous illegal narcotics and packaging materials commonly associated with drug distribution.” Following the incident, she was arrested at the scene and taken to Westerly Hospital.

Shannon N. Godbout.

Hopkinton Police Department Facebook

A police report depicted the severity of the collision, showing a black SUV that had crashed with such force into a telephone pole that the pole was split in two, leaving a significant amount of debris on the scene.

Godbout faces multiple preliminary charges, including driving recklessly resulting in death, as well as possession of narcotics with intent to distribute—her third such offense. The ongoing investigation may lead to additional charges, and she is expected to appear before a Justice of the Peace and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office in the near future.

The scene of the car crash.

Hopkinton Police Department Facebook

Authorities reported that Godbout has an extensive criminal history, with over 100 arrests and 82 court warrants issued. She has also accumulated 40 traffic citations. As of December 8, she remains in police custody at the hospital.

Chief Mark J. Carrier of the Hopkinton Police Department emphasized the collaborative efforts between local law enforcement and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. “Both the Hopkinton Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office will review all evidence to determine the appropriate charges to be filed at the time of her arraignment in District Court, and/or any additional charges,” he noted.

Friends and fans are mourning the loss of Macleod, who was recognized for his significant contributions to music, including a Grammy nomination in the 1980s for his work with the band Roomful of Blues. He was also inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame.

“Roomful of Blues would like to extend our deepest condolences to Rory Macleod’s family, friends and all of his fans,” the group stated. “We would like to acknowledge his diverse musical contributions as well as being a wonderful and gentle soul. There are no words for such an immense loss. RIP, dear friend.”

Macleod, along with his wife, Sandol Astrausky, served as Directors of the Old-Time String Band and Teaching Associates in music at Brown University. The couple shared a passion for music, hosting annual summer festivals on their 10-acre property in Hope Valley.

Reflecting on their relationship, Macleod once shared, “I learned guitar and banjo to be able to play with her. You probably can tell that playing music with someone that you’re in love with is an added bonus to playing music with just other people.”