These homicides and missing persons cases cover nearly 60 years from 1951 to 2009. The lack of evidence around the crime scene is nearly as peculiar as the lack of evidence on the bodies. An autopsy showed she died of asphyxia and neck trauma. Of the 9,686 homicides that took place in Massachusetts from 1965 until 2019, there are 3,749 that remain unsolved, according to statistics from Project: Cold Cases. The chief chose six cases to investigate first because they seemed to have high potential of seeing closure, but even those cases with little potential will be reviewed, he said. Since Candace Scola worked for the Worcester Juvenile Court and Anthony Scola was a former assistant district attorney, the case was assigned to a special prosecutor who, unfortunately, died of cancer in 2008. Details of Memorial for Webster Firefighter Paul Cloutier Announced. Unresolved Cases | City of Worcester, MA Home Departments Police Investigations Unresolved Cases Unresolved Cases Help us solve these cases and bring justice to the victims' families! Weve been very fortunate that every time theres been light shined on an old case we get phone calls and tips, Sullivan said. These and other cases have gone unsolved for years, frustrating friends and family members and challenging investigators to turn up new leads. Massachusetts has had creepy and mysterious happenings going down since it was founded (hello, Salem Witch Trials). It all happens through a combination of resources from different agencies. Said Sullivan: We were very fortunate that the guys that came before us, Lt. John McKiernan and his crew of guys back in the 80s and 90s, they had the forethought to at least think that technology was going to catch up, so they preserved a lot of stuff that if it wasnt for their forward thinking, even before the technology was really state of the art, that we have stuff that we never would have had it just been used in the regular course of an investigation.. Unsolved: Worcester New Episodes Drop on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The suspect vehicle is a small, dark vehicle with a broken window. It was then that an unknown man appeared and was able to rescue Samantha. No witnesses came forward in the case. 23 year old male missing from 63 Eastern Avenue since November of 2005. Chief Gemme would never say such a case is closed or cold, only that it remains under investigation. Contact Us More than 90 murders across Central Massachusetts have gone unsolved since 1970, and more than 40 in Worcester since 1982 are still under investigation. Contact Milton J. Valencia by e-mail at mvalencia@telegram.com. Ironically, it was Stephen King's son who put that theory forward. Murdered. On 14 August 1962, two gunmen stopped a postal truck that was delivering $1.5 million ($12 million adjusted for inflation) in small bills from Cape Cod to the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston. So, of course my thinking is you would have to be impaired, hurt, and injured.. Unsolved: Worcester is a series of narrative episodes examining over 70 unsolved cold cases on file with the Worcester Police Department. I think that they feel like they know who it is, but they cant prove it, so theres really nothing else to look at, unless somebody were to come forward, said Catherine Wailgum. Weve been very fortunate that people have reached out after these things.. Worcester Introduces Free Home Pickup of Unwanted Clothing, Textiles. Darrel Jenkins, Jr. Do you know of any other baffling Massachusetts mysteries? The cards were distributed by state police, the Department of Corrections, and district attorneys. The Freetown-Fall River State Forest has also been the site of multiple gang-style killings and a number of suicides. Thats if there is any evidence at all: In some cases, police search for one strand of material, one piece of hair to develop any leads. Alario was involved in the sale of illegal narcotics. Yet technology only goes so far, and in many cases police are left with little but reluctant witnesses and scarce evidence. The state police, Department of Corrections, and district attorneys are distributing playing cards featuring the victims in unsolved homicides and missing-persons cases. If you are a friend or family member who wants to talk about a loved one whose murder case remains unsolved, you may talk with Tom Matthews at 508-749-3166, ext. At the memorial gathering on Wednesday, all in attendance strived to remember her life even though the questions around her death still plague all of them. Are you psychic? Berry asked rhetorically. Unsolved: Worcester, a series of narrative episodes examining over 70 unsolved cold cases on file with the Worcester Police Department. Santos was in a volatile relationship in the past and investigators are concerned. Officials hope the cards could inspire someone with information to come foward. I still want to know what got him on that ground to begin with. If anyone has information about any incident they can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message. One of the keys is, you have to keep it on the front burner, Lt. Nagle said, pointing out the benefits that media exposure and hype can have in directing resources toward a particular investigation. WORCESTER- The murder of John E. Volungis Jr. 15 years ago remains one of the city's most provocative mysteries. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651. Investigators reported to commanders on the probability of ever seeing an indictment. 2023 www.worcestermag.com. Official City of Worcester, MA Website WorcesterMA.gov. Though Lizzie was ultimately acquitted of the murders, the bulk of local suspicion remained fixed on her until her death. My understanding is that they were trying to find DNA mixed with her blood, because that couldnt be explained away, Andrew Wailgum said. Foul play is suspected in this death. Officials hope the cards could inspire someone with information to come forward. 30 year old female was the victim of a sexual assault and strangulation. 28 year old male was stabbed on a Chestnut Street sidewalk by a robber who had fled with his wallet on 9-23-1991. On the evening of March 15, 2001, Elizabeth Matos and William Vega were shot and killed while walking on Dewey Street in Worcester. Evidence would suggest he was tortured prior to being executed. He was last seen leaving Madigans Again on Millbury Street on 12-27-1995 after playing darts. Holly and her brother had traveled down the road to see a litter of puppies, but her brother later returned without her. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The stories said that there were suspects who lured Mr. Harkins into a car outside the bar, that Mr. Harkins refused to testify on behalf of one of the suspects in a drug case, that Millbury police stopped a car driven by the suspects the night Mr. Harkins disappeared and officers saw blood, and that the car matched witnesses descriptions of the one Mr. Harkins got into when he left the bar. Both died as a result of manual strangulation and both were known prostitutes in the city. WORCESTER - A true crime, cold case podcast series exploring the dozens of unsolved murders and missing persons cases currently under investigation by the Worcester Police Department starts Season 3 on Feb. 21, 2023. The poem, That Fateful Night (in loving memory of Travis Monroe we miss you), which Berry provided to Worcester Magazine, reads: Laying on the ground, staring at the moon, Saying to himsef god im coming to you soon, Because it was after a party for his band, But I didnt drink, I wouldnt lie to you, Never got into trouble, I was well behaved, When you see the man in court dont through a fit, What happened to my face filled with innocence and, My life has just begun but its all gone now, I wanna come back to life but I dont kno how, But I cant get older, have kids or a wife, Its now to late im going towards the light, Lying dead on the ground that fateful Night. December 20, 2014. The rock is noted for its petroglyphs, or carvings, that depict designs of ancient and uncertain origin. On the more far-fetched side of things, the area is reportedly the home of giant snakes, UFOs, violent woodland spirits, and spectral orbs of light. News. 71 year old female was stabbed to death at 11 Salem Street on 11-28-1980. Karen Ramirez, Mr. Harkins sister, knew nothing of the pond search until reading about it in the newspaper. Another tool detectives before Sullivan and Donovan did not have is the internet. No one has heard from Vicke since February 1974. There was no prejudice in the date, he said. If anyone has information about any incident they can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send ananonymous web based message. In that regard, the media can play a positive role. Rather than letting these slayings and disappearances run cold, producers of the new true crime podcast Unsolved: Worcester are working with the Worcester police to unpack each case, some dating back to the 1950s. It was believed that Gonzalez was not the intended target of the shooting. The body has been mutilated, sexually assaulted likely after death, and was missing limbs. When it comes down to it, its all about speaking to people that were around at the time and getting information, Donovan said. Click on names for more information: See children missing from Worcester County. Police determined that the killings were the work of one individual due to the manner of their deaths. As a teenage girl, that was not an easy thing to see them taking our friend away, Morgan recalled. Billy [Donovan] can find anybody, anywhere. 29 year old female was stabbed to death at 718 Main Street on 1-10-1979. She said Gonyeas mother, Cookie, as they called her, died a few years ago. He theorized that murders since then had the most potential of being solved because witnesses may still be in the area. Amanda Clark (left) and Tangela Clark, the stepmother and mother of homicide victim Tamara Clark, stand in front of a banner during a vigil to stop gun violence in Springfield. A few days after Monroe was found dead, classmates and friends started leaving pictures and candles by the corner where Travis was found dead. 24 year old male was shot in the back at 169 Tacoma Street on 10-28-1996. Sabrina was last heard from on We cant proceed without evidence; thats the hallmark of this office.. I have that in the top drawer of my desk, the chief said. Television shows make it appear a detective can solve a case within just a few days, but the reality is it can take up to 20 years or more before a case is solved - if it is solved at all. Were able to do things now with DNA that we couldnt do three years ago.. Shot during argument in rear of 3 Duncannon Ave. In 1892, Lizzie Bordens parents, Abby and Andrew Borden, were found murdered in their Fall River home. At the time of his death, Mayrand was serving a 35 to 60 year prison sentence for murdering Patricia Paquette, 46, in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1994. Then, again, they would hear nothing. We really had fun.. The City of Worcester now offers free home pickup of used or unwanted clothers, textiles and other items through a partnership with Helpsy. The woman was shot in the temple and had died anywhere from three months to a year before her discovery, the medical examiner said. Eventually, he said, new evidence may help solve a case, even years after the crime. Both women were strangled and laced with drugs, dumped on public roads and found minutes apart. We do not share our lists with third parties. These older cases are handled a little bit differently because not every case has forensic evidence that you can use and apply new technologies.. 43 year old female was found strangled in Crompton Park on 9-22-1992. Body was found in van at Earlys garge after being towed from a parking lot at 645 Park Ave. It wasnt just one person. They had a tumultuous relationship. 27 year old female was reported missing late February 1994. Everyone loves a good puzzle, but some of these bizarre Massachusetts mysteries that remain unsolved are almost too baffling to believe. Travis Monroe had an altercation with one of those men earlier in the evening he was killed, after one of them called him a racial slur, Berry said, adding there was no charge after the police determined the men were just bragging. He was said to leap over high fences and haunt dark alleys, and there were two reports of physical assaults on adult men. Monroes autopsy revealed no drugs or alcohol in his system. Just five months before she was killed, she filed for divorce from her husband. Both died as a result of manual strangulation and both were known prostitutes in the city. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 21 year old male was found at his home at 5 Porter Street on 2-3-1992. Time at the beginning of those cases really is your enemy, he said. They had to get out of the city, said Morgan, noting they were hit hard by the murder and still struggle with it today. WORCESTER On a cold and rainy October night 30 years ago, a 17-year-old girl was killed on the train tracks by CanterburyStreet. You will receive your first email soon. A female passenger was also struck by stray bullets but survived her injuries. Her murder remains unsolved. Jeanette DeForge of The Republican reported. Volungis had enlisted in the military and was scheduled to leave shortly. Only trickles of rumors and gossip, an occasional call from police detectives saying they were following leads. For more than two decades, the family of Molly Bish has searched for an answer following the disappearance of their 16-year-old daughter. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. But let me tell you, he was never forgotten, Mrs. Thorpe said. 2023 Copyright City of Worcester, MA. The hereditary material found in humans and almost all other organisms became part of crime solving in 1985. Unlike their depiction on popular shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and NCIS, their jobs are a bit different than one might think. The 1951 killing of Irish immigrant Sean Goggin is the oldest unsolved homicide listed by the Worcester Police Department. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. No arrests have been made in connection with the fatal shooting. It was there that police thinkshe was raped and bludgeoned to death, just two blocks from her home. According to the legend, the Black Flash was nearly eight feet tall, clothed in all black clothing, and had an unusually gaunt frame. 44 year old male was bludgeoned to death outside his apartment located at 578 Millbury Street on 12-28-1995. Maureen Boyle, author of Shallow Graves a book about the investigation into the New Bedford highway killer, told CBS. Lost in the din that surrounds some of the more high-profile unsolved murders of Worcester County are some lesser-known but equally tragic murders with a distinctly urban flavor. After the discovery, her body was been exhumed three times in efforts to solve the mystery of her identity and her murderer. Officials hope the cards inspire someone with information to come forward. Name. She was murdered on 8-8-1987 at 118 Piedmont Street. What you have to do is go the other way, see if theres any potential it can ever be solved.. The Black Flash was a nickname given to a man (or creature) that terrorized the Provincetown area in the late 1930s. According to Sargent, I got the idea back in the spring. And thats one of the reasons we like to do these interviews. More than 30 years later, the mystery remains as to how 11 women from New Bedford went missing between March 1988 and April 1989. We never close an unsolved case, Mr. Conte said, calling DNA testing the best investigative practice there has been in the last several decades. Some of the cases have been well publicized, such as the death of Molly Anne Bish, whose remains were found on a wooded hillside in Palmer in 2003, three years after she was abducted from Comins Pond beach in Warren. Blanco was found on 28 Dix Street. Smith, a 19-year-old Scotland, Maryland resident, enrolled at Becker College in 2008 to study sports management. To submit information regarding these unresolved cases, call toll free 1-855-MA-SOLVE, email mspunresolved@pol.state.ma.us, or send a letter to the Unresolved Cases Unit at 470 Worcester Road, Framingham MA 01702. (Jeanette DeForge/Republican staff). New episodes will debut on Tuesdays and Thursdays over five-week periods in 10-episode series. In that case, the disappearance, the search, the discovery of her remains and the ensuing investigations made headlines and regularly aired on TV news segments. He puts a pretty comprehensive packet together of where youve been since the murder happened, and so when we go to meet these people, we have a good idea what theyve been up to as well, both good and bad The biggest technology we use is finding you.. Witnesses may be more willing to speak now, he said, and old evidence and photographs can be reviewed with new technology. Three male suspects were seen fleeing the scene. In the ensuing weeks came fear, chaos, confusion and more questions. Milton J. Valencia TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF. Similarly to Elizabeth Matos, William Vega, and Candace Scola, the body of Nereida Melendez was found not far from her personal belongings, a pocket book still containing her personal belongings and money, including a $20 bill. The state police, Department of Corrections, and district attorneys are distributing playing cards featuring the victims in unsolved homicides and missing-persons cases. Others less so, like 82-year-old Guy Barnes, who died alone at his kitchen table, the victim of an apparent stabbing. Lindsay Corcoran | lindsay.corcoran@masslive.com. New crimes deplete manpower and eclipse any intentions of investigating old cases, leaving police frustrated and families with still no closure. Investigation suggests it was a drug robbery. Melendez was last seen returning her work van to Sani-Mate on Shrewsbury Street. They take it into retirement and live with it the rest of their life, said state police Detective Lt. Richard L. Nagle, who headed the state police Cold Case Unit from 1997 to 2002. Cold cases and unsolved crimes in Fitchburg, MA. She was a good student, a good friend and just a good person, LEcuyer said. We know when they knocked on the door they [the police] thought Travis was thrown out of a moving vehicle, Berry said. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 20 year old male was shot to death while walking up Pleasant Street in the area of Piedmont Street on 1-3-1996. 96 talking about this. Karen Marchioni (Photo submitted by Jennifer Case). All rights reserved. May 23, 2022 Last Updated May 24, 2022 9:20 AM WORCESTER - There are more than 70 active unsolved murders and missing persons cases being investigated by the Worcester Police Department. It was a case that languished at one point but was solved 17 years later with evolving investigative techniques, particularly the use of DNA evidence. 28 year old female missing since 4-19-1995. "To date, any information received, regardless of how minor it may appear, is pursued to the fullest.". "Like the Scola case," says Sargent, "it received a ton of attention, and might end up being our second two-part episode. In an interview with MassLive, Marchionis daughter Jennifer Case said her mother was airlifted to UMass Medical Center where she died two hours later. Perhaps the biggest distinction between the TV world and reality is the time it takes to solve a case. 36 year old female reported missing 2-19-2009 from 2 Sigourney Street. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Me looking at him, he seems like a very wholesome kid, she continued. These are the murd But none of the three men can provide or are willing to provide an answer on Sabrinas whereabouts. Everyone loves a good puzzle, but some of these The City of Worcester now offers free home pickup of used or unwanted clothers, textiles and other items through a partnership with Helpsy. Its a case District Attorney John J. Conte said at the time was one of many his office was reviewing with the help of new DNA technology. Warrants had been sought for a Jose Antonio Melendez 11-3-1954 of 5 King Street. Fire Department divers found a passenger-side front car door, a car roof and other parts. A parking lot at 645 Park Ave male missing from Worcester County were known prostitutes in the back at Tacoma. A 17-year-old girl was killed on the train tracks by CanterburyStreet 63 Eastern Avenue since November of.... Debut on Tuesdays and Thursdays over five-week periods in 10-episode series is your enemy, said! At 5 Porter Street on 1-10-1979 thinkshe was raped and bludgeoned to death, just two blocks from her.! Fixed on her until her death we get phone calls and tips, Sullivan said, frustrating and. Three years ago, a 17-year-old girl was killed on the probability of ever an. 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