Solved Cases

Since taking office in 2007, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. has made it a priority to take a fresh look at all the unresolved homicides in the county.

The Unresolved Case Squad within the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit was created by District Attorney Early so there are dedicated investigators continuing to work to bring these cases to resolution. Each of these cases represents a victim who deserves justice and a family in need of closure.

The term “cold case” is no longer used by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. John Bish, whose 16-year-old daughter was murdered in 2000, talked about how that phrase conjured up an image of dusty files receiving no attention when in fact these cases are being worked on continuously by someone in law enforcement.

John requested that all District Attorney Offices use a more appropriate phrase, and he recommended it be called an “Unresolved Homicide Unit.” The unit was then renamed the “Worcester County District Attorney’s Office Unresolved Homicide Unit.”

It is never too late to pass on information to investigators and we strongly encourage it. We know over time that relationships change, people’s feelings change, and witnesses may be more willing to come forward. Paired with advances in science, our investigators and prosecutors welcome new information as they are driven to solve these cases.

Anyone with information can reach out to Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to our office at 508-453-7589 or WorcesterDAunresolved@mass.gov

This list is routinely reviewed by investigators and updated. Cases for the City of Worcester can be located at: https://www.worcesterma.gov/police/investigations/unresolved-cases

Solved Homicide Cases

Clara Provost, age 23, of Fitchburg

Jan. 6, 1974, slashed in Fitchburg. Ms. Provost, the mother of a 3-year-old boy, was found dead in her bed, her throat slit. Ronald Dame, who had previously dated Ms. Provost was a considered a suspect from the start, but he wasn’t charged until 2006 when DNA evidence linked him to the slaying.

Theresa Stone, age 39, of Fitchburg

Oct. 24, 1996, strangled in Fitchburg. The battered body of Ms. Stone was found by a passer-by on Kinsman Road in Fitchburg. The cause of death was determined to be ligature strangulation. In 2008, DNA from Alex Scensy, who was charged with a rape in West Boylston, proved to be match for evidence from Ms. Stone, and he was charged with her murder.

Kevin Harkins, age 36, of Worcester

Feb. 15, 1994, unknown cause. Mr. Harkins, a popular local athlete, was called from Suney’s Pub on Chandler Street about 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, 1994 and never heard from again. According to trial testimony in 2014, Mr. Harkins had reneged on his agreement to give false statements in the drug trial of John Fredette in exchange for a large quantity of cocaine.

Kathleen M. Daneault, age 25, of Gardner

Nov. 18, 1983, strangled in Gardner. Police were called to a wooded area off Mill Street where nearby workers had found the body of Ms. Daneault. Numerous witnesses placed Ms. Daneault in the company of Edward H. Mayrand Jr., 36, during the day and evening on November 17. Mr. Mayrand was identified as a suspect in the case, but investigators felt there was not enough evidence to bring a charge of murder against him.

Denise A. Comeau, age 30, of Worcester

Dec. 11, 1992, strangled in Worcester. Responding to a blaze at 141 Austin St., Worcester, firefighters discovered the body of a homeless woman inside the boarded-up house. She was so badly burned, she could not be immediately identified. A break in the case came in 2007 when a DNA analysis linked Ms. Comeau’s killer to a pair of brutal rapes in the same neighborhood in the early 1990s.

Peggy Sue Calvillo, age 24, of Fitchburg

Dec. 6, 1986, hit by vehicle, beaten in Sterling and Lancaster Ms. Calvillo, a mother of two, decided to start walking when her ride didn’t arrive on time to take her home from her job at a plastics factory in Sterling. Christopher Fletcher struck her with his vehicle as he drove along Route 12. She […]