This is a website about cold cases in Massachusetts. The purpose of this site is to seek justice for victims of crime, their families and to help locate missing persons. These are people's mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends and relatives. Please, see if you can help. If you have a case that you would like submitted please contact us at either of the email addresses below. Please send us a copy of any newsarticles regarding the case. We don't do this website for money and we are not an investigative agency. Many of our pictures and information are from sources such as various Massachusetts newspapers, the Doe Network and the Charley Project. If you have any information about these cases you are asked to call Law Enforcement. If you would like to have a case submitted you may contact us. Please submit a copy of a newspaper article confirming the case.

Updated: 6-9-2009. Devyn Murphy and Ashley Turniak cases added.

Witnesses Not Coming Forward in Murder of Teen On the evening of October 13, 2002, 16 year old teenager Devyn Jude Murphy was stabbed to death in a house party in Wareham, Massachusetts. There was an altercation at the party which was attended by around 50 people, yet no one has come forward with any information. According to family members, Murphy had aspirations of becoming a chiropractor. It is believed that there are several people that may know who killed the teen, but either are afraid or refuse to come forward. If you have any information about who murdered Devyn Jude Murphy please contact the Massachusetts State Police at (508) 759-4488. All calls can be confidential.

A Letter Links Two Girls That Were Tragically Abducted On August 5, 1993, ten-year-old Holly Piirainen was at her grandparents cottage in the town of Sturbridge. She and her brother that day went to see a neighbor of their grandparents to go see their puppies. Her brother returned to the cottage but Holly had disappeared. All that was found was shoe of hers by the side of the road. Months later on October 23rd, her remains were found by hunters in a wooded area in the nearby town of Brimfield. During the time that Holly went missing, another ten year old girl named Molly Bish from the town of Warren had written a letter to the Piirainen family. She had stated in the letter that she wished she had met Holly and that she would be found. Sadly on March 27, 2000, Molly Bish disappeared while performing her job as a lifeguard at Commins Pond in Warren. After an extensive search that last for months, her remains were found just miles from the Bish home on June 9, 2003. The last known person to see her alive was her mother, who noticed a middle-aged man in a white car hanging out in the parking lot. Police have had several people of interest in Molly�s case. An arrest in a separate attempted abduction case in August 2007 now has Law Enforcement looking at a possible suspect. Below is a composite sketch of a possible suspect in the Molly Bish murder. If you have any information about the homicides of either of these young women, please contact the Massachusetts State Police at 1-800-808-9677. For more information about the Molly Bish case go to www.Mollybish.org.

Who is the Lady of the Dunes? On July 26th, 1974 a thirteen-year-old girl walking her dog in the dunes near Provincetown made a shocking discovery of a woman brutally murdered. It is estimated that the victim had been dead for at least two weeks. Her nude body had been found lying on half of a beach towel as if she had been sharing it with someone. Her head resting on some folded jeans. Her head was nearly severed and the left side of her skull was crushed by what was believed to be an by an instrument similar to a military entreching tool. Police were never able to fingerprint the woman because both of her hands had been cut off and never found. Despite that, the deceased woman did have several interesting items on her. She had gold crowns on her teeth valued at over 5,000 dollars and her dental work was done in a �New York Style� of dentistry. She was estimated to be around 145 pounds and 5 feet, six inches tall. She had long auburn or reddish hair that was tied in a ponytail with an elastic barrette. Her toenails were painted pink and her age was estimated to be between 25 and 40. With two murder convictions, Hadden Clark (pictured below)has admitted to murdering this woman while he was living out on Cape Cod. Local Law Enforcement however, discount the claims of this killer because he has lied about other murders in the past. Her case is still actively investigated and she has been nicknamed "The Lady of the Dunes". Below are composite sketches of what the victim may have looked like. If you have information about this woman's identity or her murder you are asked to call the Provincetown Police Department at 508-487-1212. For more information about this case click here.

Death of Teenage Girl Still Haunts Town Just four days after her seventeenth birthday, Somerville High School student Deanna Cremins was found on March 30, 1995 deceased behind a senior housing building off of Jacues Street. The cause of death was strangulation. There is a twenty thousand dollar reward being offered to anyone that has information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible. If she were alive today, she would be thirty. She left behind a grieving family. If you have any information about this case, please call the Somerville Police Detective Bureau at 617-625-1600, ext. 7220.

Notorious Gangster Still On The Run Perhaps no gangster or mobster is as famous in Massachusetts history as James "Whitey" Bulger. Bulger who grew up in South Boston was the leader of the feared Winter Hill Gang. A survivor of prison stints in Alcatrazz and various gang wars. He is wanted for his involvement in ninteen murders as well as extortion, money laundering and drug dealing. Bulger was not only an intimidating crimeboss but it soon came to light that he and other members of his organization were FBI informants. They disclosed damaging information about the rival Patriarca Crime family that had a heavy presence in Boston. Born September 3, 1929, Bulger is now in his late seventies and rumored to be in Europe with his longtime girlfriend Catherine Greig. Bulger has been wanted by Law Enforcement since 1995. The US Government is offering a one million dollar reward for his capture. For more information click here. If you have seen James "Whitey" Bulger contact the nearest FBI Office or US Embassy. Or call 1-800-CRIMETV.

Nearly Ten years Later, Five month Old Baby Is Still Missing On November 7, 1998, Yolanda I. Castillo reported to Worcester Police that her five month old foster son Marlon Devine Santos was missing. His foster parents waited forty eight hours before notifying law enforcement that little Marlon had disappeared from their home at 175 Eastern Avenue. At one point, police received information that he could be found along the banks of the Wachusett Reservoir in the town of Holden. A search turned up a baby blanket, diaper and other items, but no Marlon. The foster father, Jose Castillo has a criminal record and was convicted of sexually assaulting a foster daughter. Some in Law Enforcement believe that baby Marlon is deceased, but another theory points to him being alive and illegally sold to adoptive parents. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Marlon Devin Santos please call Worcester Police at 508-799-8606 For more information about this case Click here.

Serial Killing Spree Still Unsolved The period of April to September of 1988 was a time of terror in New Bedford. It is believed that a killer or killers took the lives of eleven women. Nine of which were found murdered and two are still missing. Many of the victims were involved drug usage and in some cases prostitution. The women's bodies were all found alongside highways outside of New Bedford. The first victim was found in July of 1988 and the last known victim was found on April 24, 1989 off of Interstate 195. Over the years there were two prime suspects, one was an accused prostitute rapist who later committed suicide. The other was an attorney who had connections to several of the deceased victims. To date there has been no conviction in any of the murders of the New Bedford women. The known victims of the New Bedford Highway Killer are: Dawn Mendes, 25, of New Bedford. Nancy Paiva, 36, of New Bedford. Debra Greenlaw Perry DeMello, 35 of Brockton. Deborah McConnell, 25, of Newport, Rhode Island. Mary Rose Santos, 27, Of New Bedford. Sandra Botelho, 25, of New Bedford. Rochelle Clifford Dopierala, 28, of Falmouth. Debra Medeiros, 29, of Fall River. Robbin Rhodes, 29, of New Bedford. If you have any information about these murders or the disappearances of Marilyn Roberts and Christina Monteiro please contact the New Bedford Police at 508-991-6320.

Case of Man Murdered in front of his son still unsolved Few murders shake the population of a large city like Worcester. However, on Feb. 23, 1991, 28 year old Bruce Wood was stabbed to death in front of his five year old son as they walked back from a McDonalds Restaurant. Police found Wood deceased at Chestnut Street behind Fanning Trade High School, his young son kneeling by his body. It is believed that Wood had been a target of a robbery and had been stabbed several times in the back and once in the chest. The murder suspect was described as being a black male around 20 to 25 years of age, around six feet tall and about 160 to 170 pounds. For more information about this case click on this article by the Worcester Telegram. If you have any information about this case you are asked to contact the Worcester Police Department at (508) 799-8655.

No Answers In Bizarre Traffic Death Just North of Connecticut November 9th 1998 at 8am, 16 year old Ashley Turniak was found dead on the breakdown lane of I-91 south in Longmeadow, Massachusetts just 1½ mile from the Connecticut border. The well liked teenager from Agawam had been seen in her high school parking lot before her first class started at 7:25 that morning. Less than an hour later, witnesses reported that she went feet-first from the passenger window of a car heading south towards Connecticut. Her backpack was found on Woodlawn Avenue in Enfield, Connecticut not far from a highway exit. At the time of her death witnesses reported that she was in a tan or light brown mid-size vehicle, possibly a late 80s model Ford Tempo or a vehicle similar to that. After Turniak's fall, the car was seen leaving I-91 at Exit 49 in Connecticut. More than five years later many questions persist, was she pushed or did she fall? Who was the driver? A still grieving family and Massachusetts State Police want to know. If you have any information about this case please call (413) 747-4809.

More than 25 Years Later Young Boy is Still Missing Nine year old, Taj Narbonne was petrified of his stepfather Clarence Dean. The two did not get along. On March 31, 1981, he left his on Naples Street in Leominster home after an alleged argument with Clarence. He has not been seen since. He was last seen wearing a yellow jacket with blue sleeves, and a yellow sweatshirt with a picture of Donald Duck on it. There are conflicting reports as to whether he had shoes and socks on. Years later, his stepfather was convicted of kidnapping Taj's mother. Years later he was convicted of another crime as he shot at a police officer and took two hostages. Taj's disappearance has been classified as a non-family abduction and is possible that he could have been abducted by someone other than Dean. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Taj Narbonne, please call contact the Leominster Police Department at 978-537-0741.

Unlikely Suspect In 1972 Murder of Altar Boy It is one of Massachusett's most notorious cases. In 1972, 13 year old Danny Croteau was found floating in the Chicoppe River just miles from his Springfield home. It is believed that he was killed by being struck in the head witth a rock. For decades, suspicions have pointed to someone that was close to Danny's family. A priest at their family's church at the time of his homicide. The Reverend Richard R. Lavigne is considered the prime suspect. He was convicted on charges of child molestation on two other boys in 1992. There have been almost 40 claims by individuals that they say they were abused by him. It is alleged that some people in the Catholic Diocese of Springfield were aware of the allegations of abuse and murder, yet still allowed Lavigne to be a priest. If Lavigne is proven to be the killer of Danny Croteau, it may be perhaps the saddest footnote in the history of the Catholic Church Abuse Scandal in the United States.

No Answers In Bizarre Traffic Death Just North of Connecticut November 9th 1998 at 8am, 16 year old Ashley Turniak was found dead on the breakdown lane of I-91 south in Longmeadow, Massachusetts just one and a half miles from the Connecticut border. The well liked teenager from Agawam had been seen in her high school parking lot before her first class started at 7:25 that morning. Less than an hour later, witnesses reported that she went feet-first from the passenger window of a car heading south towards Connecticut. Her backpack was found on Woodlawn Avenue in Enfield, Connecticut not far from a highway exit. At the time of her death witnesses reported that she was in a tan or light brown mid-size vehicle, possibly a late 80s model Ford Tempo or a vehicle similar to that. After Turniak's fall, the car was seen leaving I-91 at Exit 49 in Connecticut. More than five years later many questions persist, was she pushed or did she fall? Who was the driver? A still grieving family and Massachusetts State Police want to know. If you have any information about this case please call (413) 747-4809.

Wife Still Missing Years After Argument with Husband Thirty year old Debra Marie Melo was last seen by her husband Luis Melo on June 20, 2000 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Around the time of 3 to 4 pm that day, Luis Melo claimed that the two had an argument and that she demanded to leave the vehicle which was on route 18 south of the Weymouth Naval Air Station. Luis claimed that he later drove by the same road but she was nowhere to be found. The couple is alleged to have a rocky marriage and at one time she filed a restraining order against Luis. Debra's family insists that that she didn't just wander off. They claim she wouldn't have left behind her two children. For more information about this case please visit The Charley Project Website. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Massachusetts State Police 781-830-4800.

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