‘Granby Girl’ identified 45 years after her Massachusetts murder
After more than four decades of investigation and dead ends, authorities have finally identified a woman found fatally shot and left covered in leaves along a logging road in Massachusetts.
For almost 45 years, Patricia Ann Tucker was known only as “Granby Girl,” named for the Massachusetts city in which she was killed. Her remains were initially uncovered in November 1978, though the Chief Medical Examiner estimated she had been dead since at least the previous June.
She had been shot in the temple and her death was ruled a homicide — but authorities struggled to solve the case.
They got their first big break about two years ago, when Massachusetts authorities obtained Tucker’s DNA profile through a forensic laboratory. They eventually identified a woman in Maryland who was likely related to Tucker, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said.
The woman, in turn, directed them to Tucker’s son, Matthew Dale, who was 5 years old when his mother disappeared. A comparison of his DNA with Tucker’s resulted in a 100% parent/child match, according to Sullivan.
“First I would like to say thank you to everyone in trying to identify my mother and wrapping your arms around her, especially the community of Granby,” Matthew Dale said in a statement. “Thank you for never giving up on her. At least I have some answers now after 44 years. It’s a lot to process, but hopefully, the closure can begin now.”
Authorities are still working to determine who killed Tucker and vowed they would not rest until they could deliver justice on her behalf.
“While it’s satisfying to finally know who ‘Granby Girl’ actually was, the investigation won’t stop until we identify her killer,” said First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne at a press conference on Monday.
Tucker, who was married several times, was known as Patricia Coleman when she disappeared. She was married to and living with Gerald Coleman in East Hampton, Conn. at the time. He died in 1996 and is considered a suspect in his wife’s slaying.
With News Wire Services
