It was summer of 1993 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Sturbridge is a quaint community of around 7,800 people, located on the state’s border with Connecticut, and it consists of mostly summer-homes. One afternoon, however, the tranquility of the area was shattered when a little girl failed to return to her grandparents’ summer cottage.
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Audio Sources:
“Pouliot link to Holly Piirainen case”
“Murder Of Holly Piirainen Remains Unsolved 25 Years Later”
Sources:
Boston Herald, 6 August, 1993 – “Authorities Search for Missing Girl, 10”
Providence Journal, 6 August, 1993 – “Volunteers Search Sturbridge Area for Girl”
The Republican, 6 August, 1993 – “Girl, 10, Missing in Sturbridge”
Boston Herald, 7 August, 1993 – “Mystery Began with Walk to see Puppies”
Boston Herald, 7 August, 1993 – “Dad’s Plea to Holly”
Providence Journal, 7 August, 1993 – “Volunteers, Police Hunt for Girl, 10”
Boston Herald, 8 August, 1993 – “Finding a Shoe Was an Ominous Sign”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 9 August, 1993 – “Intense Ground Search is Over”
The Republican, 10 August, 1993 – “East Brookfield Searched for Girl”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 10 August, 1993 – “Missing Girls’ Family Aided Police”
Boston Herald, 11 August, 1993 – “missing Girl’s Mom Appeal to Possible Captor”
UPI, 11 August, 1993 – “Missing Mass. Girl Featured on National TV Show”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 17 August, 1993 – “Family to Hire Investigator”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 19 August, 1993 – “False Holly Rumours are Flying”
Boston Herald, 20 August, 1993 – “Missing Sturbridge Girl’s Picture Distributed on Milk Cartons”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 22 August, 1993 – “Riders Help Holly’s Family”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 5 September, 1993 – “School to Help Missing Girl’s Classmates”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 19 October, 1993 – “Leads Reported in Holly Case”
The Republican, 23 October, 1993 – “Private Eye Believes Holly Still Alive”
Boston Herald, 24 October, 1993 – “Holly’s Killer Knew Area”
The Republican, 24 October, 1993 – “Child’s Skeleton Found in Forest”
Dayton Daily News, 25 October, 1993 – “Town Residents Fear Girl’s Killer is Still Around”
Boston Herald, 25 October, 1993 – “We’ll Get You”
UPI, 27 October, 1993 – “Autopsy Confirms Body was Missing Mass. Girl”
The Republican, 28 October, 1993 – “Holly’s Family Determined to Maintain Some Routine”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 28 October, 1993 – “She’s Like a Piece of my Soul”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 28 October, 1993 – “Holly’s Family at Odds with DA”
The Republican, 13 November, 1993 – “Hundreds Gather to Mourn Slain Girl”
Boston Herald, 14 November, 1993 – “I Could Try to forgive”
The Republican, 14 November, 1993 – “Holly Laid to Rest”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 13 January, 1993 – “No Link Between Lent”
Boston Herald, 4 August, 1993 – “Family Offers $10k to Find Girl’s Killer”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 18 January, 1995 – “Friend of Holly’s Kin is Suspect”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 30 June, 2000 – “Similarities to Piirainen Case Noted”
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 26 October, 2000 – “Holly’s Kin Find Molly’s Letter
Boston Herald, 10 June, 2003 – “Sad End”
Boston Herald, 12 June, 2003 – “Slay Link Eyed”
Associated Press, 3 January, 2012 – “New Evidence Links Dead Man to Cold Case”
The MetroWest Daily News, 4 October, 2012 – “Grave Exhumed”