The Rise of Hitman Glass
In 2009, Los Angeles-based glass artist Douglas Dracup—aka “Dougie Fresh”—founded Hitman Glass, bringing graffiti-inspired design and scientific borosilicate craftsmanship together at the height of California’s medical cannabis era. Hitman rigs, known for their bold shape and signature flair, quickly became a staple in the heady glass scene.
East Coast Connect
One of Hitman’s earliest distributors was Erik Weissman, a Boston native deeply embedded in New England’s college cannabis culture. Weissman wasn’t just a rep—he held equity in the company and was building a regional distribution hub to expand Hitman’s presence across the East Coast.
But behind the hustle, there was pressure. A previous arrest had left Weissman $50,000 in debt to a West Coast Sour Diesel supplier—an unspoken weight that, according to some, may have influenced what followed.
The Waltham Triple Homicide
On September 11, 2011—the tenth anniversary of 9/11—three men were found murdered in a Waltham, Massachusetts apartment: Erik Weissman (31), Brendan Mess (25), and Raphael Teken (37). Each had their throat slashed with such force it bordered on decapitation.
Seven pounds of cannabis and $5,000 in cash were left untouched, strewn across their bodies. Nothing was stolen.
Links to Terror
Two years later, in the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, investigators uncovered a chilling connection: bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev had trained with Mess, was in frequent contact with Weissman, and cellphone data placed him at the scene of the Waltham murders.
A Confession Erased
In May 2013, Tamerlan’s Chechen associate, Ibragim Todashev, confessed during an FBI interview that he and Tsarnaev committed the murders. But before the interview was over, Todashev was shot and killed by federal agents. No full transcript of the confession was ever released. The case remains officially unsolved.
No Charges. No Trial. No Closure.
Despite phone records, forensic links, and a direct confession, no one was ever charged in connection with the Waltham triple homicide. Years later, the case is still classified as “open,” leaving families and friends without justice—and the cannabis and glass communities with more questions than answers.
Why It Matters
Weissman wasn’t just a footnote—he was a driving force behind Hitman’s expansion. His death abruptly ended a major East Coast push and shook the heady glass scene to its core. Dougie Fresh still posts annual tributes to Erik, honoring the role he played in shaping the Hitman legacy.
A Legacy Entangled in Mystery
A glass company tied to a national terror case. A distributor murdered under ritualistic circumstances. A confession buried in bureaucracy. The intersection of heady glass, street cannabis, and homeland security has never looked stranger—or more tragic.
The truth remains clouded.
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Presented by NuggNotes
Sources:
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Zalkind, Susan. The Murders Before the Marathon. Boston Magazine, Feb. 2022. bostonmagazine.com.
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High Times. “The 100 Most Influential People in Cannabis.” May 2018.
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Hitman Glass Official Website. hitmanglass.com.
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ABC News. “Friend of Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Confesses to Waltham Triple Murder, Then Shot Dead.” 22 May 2013.
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Vanity Fair. “The Tsarnaev Brothers and the Boston Bombing.” July 2013.
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Los Angeles Times. “A Coffee Shop Built on Glass and Grit.” 16 May 2017.
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Wikipedia Contributors. “Waltham Triple Murder.” Last edited 2025. wikipedia.org.
1 comment
Such a crazy story