The Salem Strangler

[music]. Major McLacius was a very popular bar. back in the day. Back in the 80s, uh, when I worked here, Major look. completely different. Uh, it's now the babe. And seriously, this is where the line. would go. all the way down here. I mean, not every. night, but most nights. Yeah. The line. would be like right where I'm walking.

Two or three people deep. Mostly Salem. State College students. It's a busy place. It's a place to be. I. was the bouncer door man. Was most. Friday and Saturday nights. That door. would be closed and I'd be standing. directly behind this door. Oh wow. This place has changed. quite a bit.

Yeah, it's crazy coming back here after. all this time. People would refer to major like chairs, [music] like Norm. Everybody knows your. name. You would know everybody sitting here. You'd know the bartenders. You'd know. the people in the kitchen. This was all the same. Actually, these are the same tables. I remember Cla sitting right there.

Yeah. Sorry. This just it just never goes away. All I did. was show up to work one night. and now I'm connected to this. for the rest of my life. >> [snorts]. >> What happened to her? It shouldn't. happen.

My name is James Gravel and I am Cla's. younger brother by two years. I'm one of. six with mom and dad. So, there's eight. of us total in a small home and CLA's uh. three out of six. We were just a tight-knit Irish [music]. Catholic family that did everything with. family. We went to St. Michael's, which.

was a Catholic school there. >> She was very feisty, very feisty. Um, redhead, had a lot of friends, knew what. she wanted in life, would fight for it, would fight for her family. >> Claire was a ray of sunshine and a. breath of fresh air. She just had a very outgoing personality. about her. >> And tell me about her going off to. college. >> I was somewhat surprised she stayed. somewhat close to home cuz Salem is only.

40 45 minutes from North Andover. [music]. >> If you've heard of Salem, Massachusetts, the odds are the first thing that'll. come to mind are the witch trials that. [music] happened in the 1600s. 1986 in Salem, Massachusetts was kind of. [music] a really interesting time. because there was this transition going. on where Salem was starting to recognize. that even though this is an unfortunate. thing that happened, it's part [music]. of our culture. It has become a huge um. tourism industry. >> The witchy thing is what brings [music].

people here and Salem is definitely a. tourist town. >> 1986 was a big year. remain first seed. >> Top Gun was a was the big movie. >> Very good year. >> The Celtics won their championship. >> for the Celtics today. It was the sweet. 16th NBA championship. Gas was under a. dollar. >> Claire, she loved all sorts of genres of. music. The album Rio, Hungry Like the. Wolf, >> Duran Durant, >> Duran Duran was her favorite band.

>> I remember Claire introducing me [music]. to you, too. She's like, "God, you got. to listen to this band. This band from. Ireland." She was fiercely proud of her. Irish heritage. >> She loved you, too. [music]. >> Claire and I went to a lot of concerts. We saw Rush. I don't know how many. times. We saw Journey. I don't know how. many times. >> If it was up to Cla, she would have.

married Steve Perry from Journey cuz she. absolutely loved his hair. Claire Gravel, she was 20 years old. [music] She was a student at Salem State. College. >> Claire got involved with a lot of stuff. there at Salem [music] State and ended. up working for National Braille Press. >> She used to talk about just how amazing. it was all the time [music] to see, you. know, have people with disabilities, the. way that that uh things were made for. them, whether it be elevator buttons or. trying to give them greater access.

>> Claire liked to go to Major McCleases. It was her hanging out, her friends. hanging out. [music] It was just a. typical college bar. >> Take me back to [music] June 30th, 1986. What do you remember about that day? >> Um, that day in the morning, um, the phone rang. and [music] I picked up the extension. phone at the same time. My mother picked. up the phone upstairs and it was. National Brail Brail Press saying,

"Did Clay go home this weekend because. she did not arrive at work?" And my. mother's like, "No, she didn't come home. this weekend.". >> Was that unusual for her not to show up. at work? >> Yes, it was very unusual. And because if. she wasn't at work, she would be at. home. I got my younger brother, Mark, and I and we took a ride down to Salem. You would just think Claire maybe she. overslept and that was very unlike her.

She was always there, always on time. We. went and contacted her roommate at the. time, Julie. Julie hadn't seen her. We went to a few. spots that Julie knew of here in Salem. that might be a hangout spot or to track. down other friends. And no sign of. Claire. None. Um. >> that had to be strange. >> It was.

I was worried, but I was thinking, all. right, maybe she just took off for a. weekend. >> without telling anyone, >> right? Just got away. That early afternoon, we ended up going. to Salem Police Department and filing a. missing person's report. So Mark and I. went back home. >> Is the family getting panicked [music]. at this point? >> Yeah, there was a lot of concern at the. time. >> On that day, June 30th, it was a. beautiful summer day. It was the sun was.

shining brightly. There were three individuals who were. working for a surveying company doing. some surveying out on Route 128 in the. Beverly area. They happened to see uh. what they believed to be a woman's. pocketbook. laying on the side of the road. They. were just trying to figure out what it. was doing there. Obviously, it was. unusual. One of them walked to the woods and he. saw the body of a woman. >> and these road workers are obviously.

horrified by what they see and [music]. they call police immediately. >> I was 24 years old. I was a young. trooper from the Massachusetts State. Police. We received a call and responded. around noon time on that day. We did. immediately notice the items that were. laying on the ground. [music]. >> They find a pocketbook, a single sandal, and a Cosmopolitan. magazine, [music] and they find a beer. bottle that they suspect may be related. to the dead young woman. Ultimately, we.

got into the woods. and we did observe that there was a. white young female lying on her back. It was pretty clear to us instantly that. this person had been murdered. So, of course, the first question is, who is this person? So, they look in her. purse, they find her wallet, and in her. wallet, they find her driver's license. The photo appeared to be the [music]. same person laying on the ground in the. woods. The name on that license was.

Claire Gravel. >> One of the very first things police. [music] have to figure out is how this. person died. When they look at Claire, they find something [music] that is very. disturbing. >> The investigation is ramping up. Police. are looking everywhere [music] for Cla's. killer, and they're about to get a big. lead. We talked to several people. They. witnessed something unusual in the bar. that night. [music]. >> There was one gentleman that stood out.

>> that definitely piqued our interest. After CLA's body was found, we traveled. to the scene and at the time there was. uh no guardrail in the area that we. ultimately stopped in. Um today there is. a guardrail there.

When we came into the woods. approximately 50 ft, we could see the. body of a white female lying on the. ground. on her back at the slight angle on the. hill. The body was in this general area. right here. It's like it was yesterday. Honestly, I. can still vividly picture it in my mind. Um, standing here and looking at her. body. Based on what we could see on the. identification, Claire was 20 years old.

She had an address in Salem, Massachusetts. [music]. >> They see that she's barefoot. She's. still clothed. She's wearing shorts, a. white sweatshirt, but also a black tank. top. >> Uh the shirts had been pulled up. Her. breasts were exposed. It was obvious to us when we looked at. her that the tank top that she had on. was used to [music] strangle her. This shirt is similar to the shirt. [music] that player had been wearing. Ultimately, person kind of created an.

extra loop almost like a figure eight. and brought it over her head and around. [music] her neck and pulled in order to. strangle her. >> This is what's [music] known as ligature. strangulation. That's 5 to 7 minutes of. constant contact, constant pressure on. somebody's neck. It's an intimate form. of murder. [music]. >> My name is Dr. Joanie Johnston. I am a. clinical and forensic psychologist and I. study this case very closely.

Strangulation is not a common [music]. way of murdering somebody. It isn't a. gun. It isn't a knife. So, it often has. some specific meaning to the. perpetrator. >> There was a knock at the door and it was. the chief of police and a detective and. they asked me to step out out of the. room to which I did. I went [music] to. the back stoop outside and I heard my. mother scream. And at that time.

that time I ran in and. said, "What's wrong?" And they said, "Cla's dead." I took one look at my. parents' face. I was I knew it was true. I couldn't. believe it. It's. >> the first time I ever heard my father. cry. Bob Gravel, Cla's [music] dad, is now 90. years old and he still lights up talking. about his youngest daughter.

>> Do you have a story you want to share. about Claire? >> One time we went up to my sister's. house. Somebody says, "Where's Cla?" She. went for a walk in the woods and all of. a sudden she's hauling for me. I'm lost. I'm lost. We grew up in north end of. Massachusetts in the Marramac Valley. Jimmy was closer in age with Claire. Jimmy was really [music] close to her. >> Where did you fall in the number? >> I was five out of six. I'm the second.

youngest. [music]. >> So, three boys and three girls. >> Three boys and three girls. Just like. the Brady Bunch. Just like the Brady. Bunch. Correct. Yes. [music]. >> The house was small. My brothers shared. one bedroom. >> My sisters and I, we all shared a. bedroom. We had timed showers. We had scheduled. showers. >> We [music] fought at times, too, cuz I. mean, there's six kids. >> We beat the tar out of each other. [laughter]. >> My mom would pull in the driveway and.

we'd be like, "I won't tell on you if. you don't tell on me." Oh, okay. [laughter]. >> Claire loved having a large family. That's what she wanted. >> She had told some of her college friends. she wanted six to 10 children. And I was. like, "Wow, there's your Irish Catholic. right there." Yeah. So, we had a 25th. wedding anniversary party for my mom and. dad. >> Hi, mom. >> Hi, Floyd. >> I remember Claire being there. She had a. a professional quality camera. She took. all kinds of pictures and everything.

>> Claire was bubbly. She got along with. everybody, >> but she could get her Irish up. If. anybody [music] ever picked on her. younger brothers, it was dead man. walking. She could be a little. bodyguard, you know. She she wasn't. tall, you know, but just the best. >> Then she went off to college and we. bonded even more because I was her ride. to and from college and, [music] you. know, we would do a lot of talking about. life and school. >> When Claire started at [music] Salem. State, she went in as a political.

science major. She talked about going to. law school, I, you know, thought, well, of course, because you love to argue, so, you know, that makes sense. I wanted. her to make something big for herself. cuz I knew she could make something big. for herself. >> When I sat down [music] with Claire's. brother, Jim, it was clear from the. start how much he admired and looked up. to his older [music] sister. >> She was the pretty one. She was the. smart one. She was the athletic one. She. was the outgoing one. And she had. everything that you would want in a. person.

>> We were trying to determine why somebody. would do this to Claire. We ruled out other things such as. robbery. Normally, [music] if somebody. was going to rob somebody, they wouldn't. strangle them. And her checkbook was. still in that pocketbook. You know, there was a very small amount of money. there. [music] So, we could rule that. out pretty quickly. >> They look at sexual assault. [music] The. medical examiner later determined that. there was no sexual assault. >> We wanted to [music] backtrack and try. to see if we could figure out what her.

activities were [music] before somebody. killed her. We learned Claire did frequent Major. Mclaces fairly often. >> That was the college bar. It was very. close to the campus and that's where all. the kids hung out at Salem State. >> As police start putting the case. together, [music] they learned that. Claire Gravel was at Major Winkle's on. the evening of Saturday, June 28th into. [music] the early morning hours of. Sunday, June 29th, just over 24 hours. before her body was found. Ultimately,

we talked to the bouncers there, [music]. the bartender, and some of her friends. there. Um, and what [music] we found was. that several people witnessed something. unusual. There was a man in the bar that night. [music] that stood out to them. >> I'd never seen him before that night. He. looked like he was out of place here. >> He didn't fit with the attire. Didn't. fit with anybody else there. [music]. khakis, polo shirt with a collar on, a. couple buttons. Everybody in here.

dressed in jeans and cut offs and. shorts. >> All of them saw this person interacting. with Cla. And so that definitely piqu. our interest. >> Claire was just with her friends that. night. Everybody kept looking over at. her and hanging around next to her. He. was like, I right there. >> There are all kinds of questions. swirling about this mystery man. But it. turns out Claire didn't leave the bar. with him that night. She [music] left. with somebody else.

>> He is the last person that sees Claire. alive. That's somebody that we want to. talk to. [music]. I found out about Claire Gravel's murder. through the newspapers, the local. newspapers. Salem State College student murdered, co-ed murdered, [music] woman strangled. Those were the headlines. People were. afraid. People were very [music] afraid,

very scared. Nobody had any answers. >> Was there any thought of who would have. done this? >> There were so many names that came to my. mind that it just I [music] wasn't sure. which direction to go in. I remember hearing after the autopsy how. she had died and it was like, "Okay, but.

who?". I was just totally focused on the who. As far as whether Clare had any enemies, if she did, there wasn't any apparent to. us. Strangulation is a very personal way. [music] of killing somebody. Investigators are going to look at just. about everybody who is in Claire. Gravel's life. She dated a guy named. Michael Jinx. >> Were you [music] suspicious at the time. of him? >> I had convinced myself that it was him. But then a lot of people said, "No, he.

really, really loved your sister. He. wouldn't do something like this.". >> That was sort of an on andoff. relationship. And so that's something. [music] else obviously we would look at. Was it a healthy relationship? Was it. not a healthy relationship? >> Years later, [music] Claire's former. boyfriend would sit down for an. interview with the local station WHDH in. Massachusetts. >> It wasn't like we were madly in love and. we that [music] close. I was I knew her. I had gone out with her and I was the.

last my name was the last one linked. with her. So that's how I came about to. you know [music] be associated with it. Ultimately, investigators were able to. rule Michael Jinx out and he was. cleared. >> So, investigators are talking to. everybody they can. They're talking to. her friends. They're talking to people. at the bar. And they learned that Claire. was at Major Mclishes on Saturday, June. 28th. She was dropped off at her. apartment around 1:30 on Sunday [music]. morning, June 29th. >> The person that gave her this ride, his.

name is Jim Kfales. Jimmy Kfales was a. regular patron at MClius. Clare knew. him. >> Jim Kfales is an acquaintance of hers. They weren't super close, but she seemed. comfortable enough [music] to accept a. ride home. >> When we looked into it, what [music] we. gathered was that he's the last person. that sees Claire alive. >> That's a huge thing for investigators.

The suspicion was on Jimmy Kavales. All. eyes were on him. >> We were able to get information from. him. >> Jim just said that when he was at the. bar, Claire approached him and [music]. asked him if he could give her a ride. and he basically told her, "Yes, but I'm. not leaving right now, but when I am. leaving, I'll give you a ride.". >> [music]. >> He says they left the bar somewhere. between 1 and 1:30 and he remembers. dropping her off around 1:30 a.m. We.

obviously had to [music] make sure we. followed up on it and made sure that. what he was telling us was true. [music]. He said he pulled into a bank parking. lot which is just next to [music] where. Cla was living. He pulled up here to my right just along. this wall and Claire got out of the car. And once she got out of the car, he saw. her walking up the sidewalk here.

He saw Claire just about to step onto. these stairs right here. >> He left and he assumed that she got. inside the apartment safely. She was. right there. >> [music]. >> The building is now like a dark gray. color. At the time, it was like a bright. yellow with white [music] trim. >> Claire's apartment was upstairs on the. left. The fact that she [music] never. made it inside, of course, that was our.

big question. Well, what happened. between this location and that doorway? >> Investigators want to interview tenants. [music] in Clari's building, and nobody. heard anything. They didn't hear a door. slam. They didn't hear a fight. I can. hear a scream. And of course, [music]. that's then redirecting the spotlight. again onto the last person who saw her, Jim Kafales. >> When I started working back in [music]. 1986, I was an investigative journalist and.

the Claire Gravel story caught my. attention. I got very connected to this. case. I I I just couldn't give up. So, I. went to Cla's apartment a number of. times. It was very chilling to be there. Claire Gravel was last seen walking up. to these steps of her apartment at Fort. Luring Avenue directly across from Salem. State College. >> As I talked to witnesses, many witnesses. and some of them were defensive of Jimmy. [music]. protecting Jimmy Kafales. Others were. like, I think it was him.

>> Jim Kafales actually worked at Salem. State College as a police officer in. security. So he was working later that. night. When he left Clear, he basically just. circled around at the intersection and. headed right down to Salem State. College. [music]. >> Another thing was concerning to them. He. was supposed to be at work at 11:00 that. evening and he ended up clocking in. around 1:40. >> This is a big deal. He's the last person. to see her live. Last known person.

anyway, and he shows up almost 3 [music]. hours late for work. That could be. considered very suspicious. Obviously, when we start to hear things like. somebody was late for work, that's. something we want to look into. We also eventually learned that he had. called ahead of time and told a coworker. [music] he was going to be late. And then ultimately, we learned that. that coworker then saw him at 1:40 in. the morning. >> At this point in time, Jim Kafales is.

really in a gray area. They can't rule. him in [music] and they can't rule him. out. The police asked me questions about. Jimmy Kafales. And honestly, Jimmy. Kafales's name kept popping up. It was. always, you know, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. And I'm like, Jimmy, [music] Jimmy. didn't do this. He didn't do it. >> In the meantime, detectives are. following up on all kinds of leads. And. [music] back at Claire's apartment, they. find something intriguing. >> We obtained Cla's diary. It was just a. notebook, if you will, a flip notebook.

And there's a big clue. a name. She was. mentioning a person who was interested. in her. [music]. Those first 48 hours, July 1st and 2nd, were just like a whirlwind in a blur. I.

remember they released [music] her body. I took my parents to the undertaker, to. the church, to the florist, to do all. those things you need to do, you know, to get ready for [music] a funeral. to this day when I smelled [music] fresh. flowers. Like my stomach turned a little. bit cuz it takes me right back to that. funeral home. Tell [music] me about that. day saying goodbye to your sister. >> That was tough. the wake leading up to.

the funeral, walked in the funeral home. and saw her laying there is when I. really lost it. >> All of a sudden it got real. It's not a. headline. It's not something you saw on. the news. Now it's real. That's actually. her. and now you [music] have to deal with. it. Cla's casket is going down the. middle of the aisle in our family going. [music]. behind it and thinking that your. sister's in this casket that you're.

never going to see her again in. that we are here for CLA's [music]. funeral. I remember the cops telling us that they. were going to have some people [music]. cops at the funeral because sometimes. the person shows up. When I interviewed Mary Gravel, it's. just this heartbroken [music]. mom. that never was the same. >> Do you know what it was like at her. funeral knowing everybody who came from. that area expressing their condolences.

and shaking your hand and in your mind. you're saying, "Is this [music] the. one?". It's a terrible feeling. [music]. Jimmy Gravel told me that the day after. Claire was murdered, Mary [music] was. never the same. She always wondered who. was it, who and why? Is this the one? >> That's the question police are also. trying to answer. And they're looking at. every part [music] of Cla's life,

including something they found back at. her apartment. >> Cla had a diary. She wrote everything. down in a diary. It wasn't your [music] typical fancy. diary. It was just a notebook, if you. will. And Claire would just note on. variety of days, not necessarily every. day, but just things [music] that she. felt that she wanted to write down. >> The diary, I think, took on some. significance for investigators because. even though she didn't write in it every. day, she [music] obviously wrote things. that were significant to her.

>> One name that popped up in her diary was. Jerry Verrett. He was a Salem police. officer. And she did mention Jerry. Verrett in a couple of entries a month. or so before [music] her death. Claire. had mentioned in the diary about Jerry. wanted to buy her dinner. He [music]. wanted to take her on a date and she. really did not want to go. >> Jerry Verrett was an older man. He was. around 40 years old married and clearly. not somebody that Clare was interested. in.

Much like [music] Claire's friend Jim. Kfales, Jerry Verrett also hangs out at. Major McLacas. [music]. >> One of her friends had mentioned about. him talking to them over the. loudspeaker. So, I would assume that. would be the the police crew's. loudspeaker when he'd go by [music] when. they're in the bar. Investigators would. be interested in Jerry Verrett because. this is somebody who seems [music] to. kind of have some unrescrocated. love or affection. And we know that that.

can certainly be a motive. >> And so once we heard that, we obtained. [music] his work records. We learned. that he was working basically the whole. time on the 28th, the 29th, the 30th. He. [music] worked so many hours during that. time, there was no way that he could. possibly have been able to accomplish. that. >> So Jerry Verrett did have an alibi. So that turns out to be another dead. end. But police are about to get their. biggest lead yet. When the road workers.

or the surveyors were at the scene with. us, what they said was that in addition. to finding the body, they noticed a. pickup truck backed into a path of 200. ft up the road from where Cla's body was. found. They were asked, "Can you tell us more. about the truck? What color it was? [music] Would you did you see anybody in. it?" They said it was a white male, probably mid30s [music] in the vehicle. with a mustache. So, we wanted to determine who that. person was that was in that pickup.

truck. >> So, remember Roger the bouncer? [music]. Police are interviewing him and they. learned that this mystery man was seen. leaving the bar alone and also went to a. white pickup truck. I was standing right. about here and uh he walked past me this. way and then went across the street. heading towards a small white pickup. truck parked right there. I'm assuming. that's where the vehicle that he got.

into. But, you know, I had to turn. around and go back in and, you know, do. my jobs and that was the last I saw of. him. The search for this so-called. mystery man goes on. But then somebody. connected to [music] the white truck, the one at the crime scene, comes. forward, and he's got [music] an. interesting story to tell. >> And he told police I was doing something. I shouldn't have been doing.

[music]. the surveyors that ultimately found the. body. [music]. They had been by here this area earlier. in the morning. [music]. and so they had noted that they saw a. vehicle parked just up the road a little. bit. They described it as a pickup truck. They did see somebody [music] in the. truck uh they said was a white male and.

that the person they thought was. sleeping [music] in the truck. Later [music] the Beverly police were. approached by one of their officers. who told them that it was his truck. [music] That officer is a man named. James Stapleton. You can see him here in. this photo, which would prove critical. to the case. He works for the Beverly. [music] Police Department, which is only.

a 10-minute drive from Salem, Massachusetts. James Stapleton [music]. is listening to roll call and he hears. about this truck that they're looking. for. >> And imagine he's sitting there listening. to that [music] and instantly knows he's. that man. As a result, my detective lieutenant and. a captain from Beverly police did an. interview with James Stapleton to. determine more information about what he. was doing out on Route 128. [music].

And Mrs. Stapleton ultimately said that. [music] he had had a fight with his. current wife at the time and so he did. not want to go home. He made [music] a statement stating, "I. was doing something I shouldn't have. been doing.". Of course, that is something that's. intriguing, and we want to find out what. is that. He says [music] he gets into an argument. with his wife. He goes out drinking. He's drinking and driving, and. essentially, he pulls over on the side. of the road to sleep it off.

>> That doing [music] something he. shouldn't be doing is referring to his. drinking and driving. Stapleton tells. investigators that he slept in his truck. until around 9 the next morning. [music]. He says he woke up, saw those road. surveyors, and then drove off. Shortly after the news broke, I went to. where the crime scene was. I wanted to do [music] a stand up right. where it happened. During my standup, I was standing right.

where James Tapelton was parked. This is. the dirt road off of Route 128 in. Beverly near the Wenham Town line where. state DPW workers found the body of. Claire Gravel strangled on Monday, June. 30th, 1986, less than 36 hours after she. was last seen in Salem. It was a tough. place to [music] find. And that made me. think, it has to be somebody that knows. exactly where that road is. >> When James Stapleton was talking to uh. the other detectives, he had mentioned. to them there was a gate there and he.

bumped the gate. He thought some paint. chips might be on his car. They asked. him if he would go for a ride with them. back to that location. He did travel back with them to where he. had parked. and they took a look around and he. noticed an orange soda can. He pointed. that out to the [music] detective. saying, "See that soda can? That's. mine.". He's doing this because James Stapleton. was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

and he knows it. So the next thing. police have to do that are investigating. the case is they got to take a hard look. at James Stapleton. and they got to look into [music]. exactly where he was the night that. Clare went missing. As they began investigating James. Stapleton, they realized that he had. actually been at his sister's wedding. Saturday night, the night that Claire. had been at Mclashes and ultimately. disappeared. And he was able to actually provide.

photographs that corroborated his story. Later, as we continued the. investigation, we learned that CLA was. likely placed in that location or she. died in that location early Sunday. morning. James Stapleton was there on. Monday morning, June 30th. There's like at least 24 hours between. the time she dies in those woods right. there. until he actually is [music] seen parked. in that location 200 ft away.

He said he never knew that there was a. body there. And if he had been aware, he. would have made sure he did something. about it. [music]. There are a lot of people who may know. [music] something maybe just a small. fact. The other route that I tried to take. [music] was to sort of keep the case in. people's minds by getting out there and. having the press uh either write another. article on the case or have some news.

segment. We've talked to so many people, numerous people we questioned regarding. their whereabouts, um, their association. with Claire. However, we have yet to. talk to somebody who gives us enough. evidence and actually leads us to. Claire's killer. As time goes on, there's a lot of. concern. This is becoming a cold case. And once you've exhausted [music] the. immediate leads that you have, you have.

to start broadening your suspect pool. [music]. >> Maybe it's not somebody she knows. Maybe. it's somebody who passed through the. area. >> There was [music] an active serial. killer murdering women, strangling them, and dumping them on the side of the. road. >> You had the remains of woman after woman. after a woman found along the two. highways. >> The [music] New Bedford murders was a. big story in 1988. Maybe it's a serial killer.

[music]. I kept this case close to my heart and I. just had that [music] determination. And. I wanted to find who did this because, you know, I had had those conversations. with Claire's mom and I could hear that. pain in her voice when she spoke about. her and, you know, and how what a great.

person [music] she was. >> Why did she lose her life? Could she. have done something that terrible? Did she deserve this? Why did she lose. her life? >> Questions that have been asked over and. over by Mary and Bob Gravel. Why was. [music] her 20-year-old daughter Claire. murdered in late June of 1986? I [music] just felt like there has to be. some way that we can solve this case. [music]. >> But heartbreakingly for Claire's family, years would go by. No arrests. They were.

losing hope. After a number of years, I. had just convinced myself I was never. going to have an answer. And part of. that was I wanted it desperately for my. parents. I just. just thought that was it. You know, we. were never going to know. >> [music]. >> I did have this box that I kept with a. variety of. little scraps [music] of paper, notes. and things, like a small photo of Cla, a. picture of her with her uh I believe it.

was her nephew, a picture of her, you. know, [music] patting a horse, those. things that kind of kept it uh in my. mind as this is a [music] person that. had family and had friends. It's not. just this is another case. It's somebody. that, you know, was loved by everybody. and loved everybody and so it kept it. alive for me. [music]. As time goes on, it's becoming. increasingly clear that the suspects.

they had initially have been, [music] if. not ruled out, um they certainly haven't. been ruled in. And so I think because of. that, there's a lot of concern. This is. becoming a cold case. >> We considered everything. Maybe it's not. somebody she knows. Maybe it's a. complete stranger. Maybe it's somebody. who passed through the area. Maybe it's. a serial killer. So, in between 1988 and 1989, >> the skeletal remains of a young woman.

have been found along a southeastern. Massachusetts highway, >> there was an active serial killer that. was dubbed the New Bedford serial. killer, who was murdering women and. dumping them on the side of the road, but approximately 70 mi away from where. [music] Claire Gravel was discovered. taking a look at how Cla's body looked. at the scene, how that ligature was used. to kill her, and we're trying to. determine, is this somebody that has. some kind of paraphilia or some unique.

desires and motives that would drive. them to do something like this? A paraphilia [music] is an unusual or. deviant sexual interest and that would. include things such as being sexually. aroused by strangulation. >> So the New Bedford Highway murders were. women that were strangled in in a. similar fashion that Claire was. >> You had the remains of woman after woman. after a woman found along the two. highways.

>> Noticing these similarities [music]. which makes it worth investigating. They're also noticing very significant. differences. The victimology is really. important. In the New Bedford highway. [music] killer, the victims tend to be. um either involved in sex work or in. drug or alcohol use. That's very. different from Claire. [music] They were. ultimately never able to connect the. two. And as a matter of fact, nine. murders of these women has never been. solved to this day.

[music]. As the years go by in the investigation. of Clear Gravel's murder, forensic. technology is advancing at an almost. magical rate. And one of the things they. started doing is what's commonly known. as touch DNA and murder cases across. America and really the world began. getting solved because of this new. technology. >> In 2004, [music]. I learned more about our touch DNA. little bit different from getting DNA.

from blood or seminal fluid or hairs. This is more looking for somebody's DNA. who might have had contact with an. object [music] with an item. I knew that when I looked at that. ligature that the way the uh tank top. was twisted and pulled over Claire's. neck, somebody had to really hold that. tight and really use force with their. hand in order to make that liature. And.

so I submitted it for um processing. >> It takes almost 3 years as the. technology catches up to the case. In. 2007, they were able to isolate a. complete male genetic profile. >> When I heard that they had the profile, I I was just I was blown away. I was. that was a huge moment for me. I felt. like we're going to do this. We're going. to get this person someday. Might not be. tomorrow, might be not next month, not.

next year, but we're going to figure out. who did this. So, we took that profile then and. figured out, okay, now what do we need. to do? >> So, there's still one person who has. spent all of these years living under a. cloud of suspicion, and that's Claire's. friend, Jim Kafales, and they're about. to test Jim Kafales's DNA because. remember, he was the last person to see. her alive that night. I had asked one of the other detectives.

if he would go and follow James Kafales. and ultimately he contacted me and said. I just saw him drop his coffee cup in a. trash barrel. I said, "All right, take. the coffee cup." Uh, which he did and we. submitted that to be tested against the. profile that was located on the tank top. and ultimately they told us that it did. not match that DNA that was on the cup. that James Kafales had did not match the. DNA on the tank top. So after 20 years, Claire's friend, Jim. Kafales, [music] is cleared of.

involvement in Clare's murder. >> So Jim Kales is no longer under a cloud. of suspicion. [music]. But he has said this case still haunts. him, especially the idea that he drove. [music] Clare home, but never made sure. that she made it safely into her. building. Detectives also go to the. trouble [music] of tracking down James. Stapleton, that officer who slept in his. truck the night before Cla's [music]. body was found. They test his DNA and it. doesn't match the profile on Clare's.

tank top [music] either. >> James Stapleton was ultimately cleared. in this case. >> The home run for every investigator is a. COTUS hit and [music] that is the. national database that essentially. documents every known convicted felon in. all 50 states. They [music] submit this. to KOTUS and they get nothing. >> It was disappointing, [music]. but I thought this is a good step for us. because now it's it's it's in that. database. I retired in 2009 and it was. hard to.

let it go, if you will. I mean, I like I. said, I kept a report [music] on it. because I I didn't want to let it go. It's been more than 20 [music] years. since Claire's murder when Detective Gil. retires. So now the case lands in the. hands of a brand new set of detectives. and they're essentially starting at. square one. >> And then [music] later in a town not far. away, there is an attack that it is. eerily similar to Claire Gravel's.

murder. >> He's got this around your neck. Are you. thinking you're about to die? >> [music]. >> I live in Hamilton, which is a beautiful. suburb of Boston, north of Boston, near. Salem.

People move there because [music] it has. a great school system. It's a family. town. In my job, I often find myself sitting. down with people who [music] are. recalling the worst day of their lives. And this time, I sat down with a woman. named Rosemary Disc. She told me about. that night back in 2007. It had been 20 years after Claire. Gravel's murder, and Rosemary knew. nothing about it. She was a mom. separated from her husband who was at.

home with her 12-year-old son, Jason. I was a real estate broker, so I I. worked a lot of hours and I had a son. who was 12 years old. So most of, you. know, my life was my son and my job. >> So take me back to June 6th, 2007. What. do you remember about that day? >> Um, it was a Wednesday and it was like a. normal day. It was nice sunny day. [music] and I. worked during the day and took my son to.

baseball. and he wasn't feeling well. So I brought. him home and he informed me they had to. do a project for school. He had to make. a Mexican dish. So and I was going to. make a flin for him. [music]. >> It's in the evening around 9:30, 9:40. She is cooking on the stove.

There's a knock at the door and she. thinks it's [music] her husband. and he had been over earlier and she. thought maybe he had come back for. something. So I walked over to the door and it and. and [music]. it was there was someone standing there. with her head bowed down. >> and it is a man that she knows, [music]. John Kerry. They're not friends, but she knows him. >> Was he a golfing buddy of your. husband's? >> Not really a golfing buddy. They knew.

each other because they go to the same. golf clubs. And I knew him because he. was one of my friends ex-husband. And he. used to live one street over and his. daughter played with my son Jason. I remember what looked like he was. drunk. I opened up the slider. and he came in the house and I didn't. invite him in. He just came right in. [music]. I'm like, you know, what are you doing.

here? He said, your husband invited me. for a drink. I'm like, my husband. [music] invited you for a drink. That. doesn't sound right. Let me give him a. call. So, I reached over to get the. phone. [music] and he grabbed it out of my. hand, threw it on the ground, and pulled. out. [music] didn't know what it was. Put an a tie around my neck and tried to. strangle me. He pushed me back against [music] the. the wall.

And I did say, "Why me? What's going. on?". And he just said, "I [music] don't. know." And that was the only. conversation we had. And he just kept. pulling and pulling. I think it's so. confusing at this point because here's a. man who has come into a woman's house. that he knows that she can identify. [music] and attacks her randomly and as. opposed to him, you know, grabbing her. breast or trying to take her clothes. off. He is strangling her. He's got this.

around your neck. Are you thinking. you're about to die? >> Oh, I definitely and I was cutting. through my neck. I thought I was going. to die. I really thought I was going to. die. There's a struggle. She ends up knocking. over this heavy chair. Her 12-year-old. son hears this and he comes down to see. his mom on the floor and John Kerry. pulling something around her neck. He. saw John was hurting me. So I said, "Get. a knife and stab him.".

He got a knife. He went behind him and. he stabbed in his back, but the knife. broke. And then when he did that, John. Carrey let go of the noose around my. neck and went after him. My son went. right out the slider and [music] was. screaming, "Murder, murder." And the. neighbors all heard him. I came to I got. up. He turned around and came back and. he sucker punched me right in the face. Ah. >> So I gave me a black eye. And I just. still to this day remember that the the. hand hitting me and the blood dripping.

down. Then he turned around and went after my. son. >> [music]. >> What's going through your mind? >> Just that I didn't want him to get my. son, but my son went across the street. through the yards down to his friend. >> Rosemary makes it to her friend's house. She tells him what's happened. She's. hysterical. He picks up the phone and he. calls 911. >> 911. What is your emergency? >> My neighbor Rose Disy just came in. saying someone has tried to attack her. Where is the.

>> Okay, hold right down. >> Hamilton, Massachusetts is a pretty. quiet town and for 911 operators, some. of their shifts can be pretty boring. All of a sudden, about 9:00 on this. evening, the call board lights up, all. describing the same incident of this man. who came into the house and attempted to. strangle Rosemary. >> Something has happened very clearly the. street. >> Police respond immediately. That was my first feeling that oh my. god, I'm not dead. I I got away and my.

son was okay. My son Jason thought I was dead. He. thought that I had been killed and they. [music] the ambulance came when I went. to the neighbor's house and then they. got Jason and brought him to me. >> H this had [music] to be terrifying. >> I had never had any violence in my life. before. I mean, I lived in Hamilton. You. don't [music] expect to have a neighbor. that, you know, would do something like. that.

>> Rosemary and Jason are taken to a. hospital and police know exactly who her. attacker is. So, they go to find John. Carrie and the story he tells them is. pretty stunning. >> So, uh I uh I'm a kinky guy and that's. well known. That's the way I am.

After neighbors call 911, police are on. the scene pretty quickly. [music]. Rosemary suffered some pretty severe. injuries to her head and her neck. [music] Tell me about this. This is. where the tie was around your neck. >> This is where I had my hands underneath. trying to stop them from strangling me. So this is basically what happened to my. neck. It was cutting in all the way. around my neck. [music]. >> And then what happened? Your eye is.

really red here. >> I think this is where he he punched me. >> in the face. Luckily my son came and. saved my life. >> So this is Jason. He looks pretty. serious in these pictures. >> Yeah, he does. >> Did you see a change in him afterwards? >> Yeah, there was definitely a change. I. mean, he was went through a very. traumatic situation. [music]. >> The next day, John Kerry shows up at a. police department. >> John, can you figure just explain to me.

what happened last night? >> Yeah. >> With a very, very different tale to. tell. [music]. >> I went over there and Rose Bones and I. haven't, you know, even. I'll just say. buddies, I don't I don't want it too. [music] rude. I mean, >> crude. Yeah. No, >> John Kerry tells them that there [music]. was a situation that happened the night. before and it was consensual. >> So, we started, you know, kind of going. at it. We don't just we don't hug. It's.

strictly. sex, you know, and better than me going. find a hooker and she knows that I'm. safe. So, that's that's what we do. And. uh but she was uh bent over the chair in. [music] the kitchen. So, uh, I, uh, I'm. a kinky guy and that's well known. I. like bondage. I like that, uh, asphixxia. type stuff. You know, that's the way I. am.

>> John Kerry comes in with this. Hey. fellas, you know how this is. This was. crazy kinky sex night. [music] As you. watch that video, you can see this guy. is reliving the act as he's telling. [music] it to the police. >> There was something on the table that I. grabbed and I put it around her neck. >> [music]. >> And I was pulling her backwards, pulling. back the range like you would on a dog. sle type of thing. She said, "Let's go. in the bedroom.". I said, "No, I I got to know cuz I.

didn't want to lose what I had gone. [music] I just wanted to get over with. and get out of there, which is what I do. when we get together." Anyway, >> John Kerry is describing this terrible. misunderstanding where he's gone in to. have consensual sex with this woman. As. he's strangling her, [music] he looks up. and he sees this young man, this. 12-year-old boy looking at him. >> He knows who I am, [music] but I just. tried to block myself. I caught the uh. table and and then I ran out the door. The sliding glass door was right there.

I ran out the door. Now, you know, I. don't know what Rose is saying, but it. was very embarrassing for both of us, obviously. [music]. John Kerry claimed it was consensual sex. because he knew there was overwhelming. evidence that he had been there. There. were eyewitnesses, there was corroborating physical. evidence. I mean, it was an incredibly. well doumented attack. >> So, usually when we have a situation. like this,

stories are somewhat similar and they. vary slightly or kind of embarrassment. or whatever. >> On this one, they're varying greatly. She has a huge injury on her neck and. this is far more consistent with. somebody who's trying to kill someone. [music] than somebody who's engaged in. sexual play. So what they're trying to. do is they're trying to pin him down on. details. And they're essentially either. trying to confirm or [music] refute his. story. >> So how long have you seen?

>> Since uh [music] December, but it's only. it's only third or fourth time. >> But have you ever been over there when. um with son there? >> No. No. either in school or or maybe it. was his dad. But that's the first time. he and I didn't know he was there. >> And then they're going to lower the boom. and let him know. They don't believe. him. >> How can you not with this type of injury. take care of more credible detail? You. know what I mean? >> So police arrest John Ky [music] and. they charge him with attempted murder. >> So he's charged with this is a crime.

>> It definitely was a crime for what you. did to me. And if Jason hadn't been. there that night, >> I don't think I'd be alive. >> John Kerry is ultimately tried and. convicted of attempted murder and home. [music] invasion and sentenced to 20. years in prison. So then you [music] hear the guilty. verdict. What was that like? >> I was happy. Good. He's gone. Hope he. never gets out.

This ordeal may be over, but this case. is about [music] to breathe new life. into a decad's old investigation. >> He was not on anybody's radar. >> That moment was incredible. It really. was. [music]. Currently,

[music]. I work as the deputy chief of police at. Marramac College, where I've been now. for 16 [music] years, and I've loved. every minute of it. We ensure the safety. of over 4,000 students [music] here. Obviously, for the last 40 years, I've. thought about CLA and her case. It's. never left my mind. [music]. She was a young college student. She. never got to experience all these. wonderful things [music] that ultimately. you want kids to experience at college.

She never got to do that. >> [music]. >> Decades have now passed in Cla's murder. case. But Cotus doesn't sleep and we. have an unknown DNA profile from the. black [music] tank top and the computer. in Cotus is constantly looking for. matches and every state in America. submits [music] DNA from their convicted. felons. Detectives are always hoping. that somewhere along the way the killer. his DNA is going to pop up in the.

[music] system. So, in 2012, there is a. huge break in clear gravel's murder. case. >> I heard from the district [music]. attorney's office that they actually had. a match from the uh Cotus database. The DNA on the tank top matched the DNA. of somebody who was serving time in. prison. That moment was uh incredible. It really was. It was um it makes me. emotional actually to talk about it. >> [music].

>> When the district attorney's office told. me the name John Carrey, I. said [music] I never heard that name. before. Nobody ever provided that name. to us uh through our entire [music]. investigation. No information or. evidence ever led at that time to John. Carrey. I didn't know anything about. him. [music]. >> He was not on anybody's radar as far as. they knew. He had absolutely no. connection with Claire Gravel.

>> So the very first thing police do is. they look at the offense [music] for. which the guy's been jailed and what do. they find of John Kerry? He's serving 20. years for the strangulation and. attempted murder of another woman, Rosemary [music] Disc. >> So once the district attorney's office. knew that they had this match to John. Kerry, it created a whole new. investigation. Basically, [music]. one of the things they want to know, of. course, is was he around in 1986. And. they find that he was he was [music] 26. years old. He was living in Gloucester,

Massachusetts, which is not very far. from [music] where Clare was found. Gloucester is actually north of Beverly, where Cla's body [music] was found. And. the way to get to Gloucester is on Route. 128 and passing right through Beverly. He [music] had gone to Salem State prior. to Clare back in the late '7s, so he was. familiar with the area. >> He graduated from high school in 1977 in. Gloucester, Massachusetts. [music] These. are high school yearbook photos of John.

Kerry and you see in one he's golfing. [music]. He goes on to become an avid golfer. And. in 1989, he actually started his own. turf maintenance company. Police now want to know more about John. Kerry. They track [music] down his. friends. They learn about relationships. They even speak to his ex-wife. My name. is Charlene Kerry. I was married to John. [music] Kerry. First time I ever saw. John Kerry was in the seventh grade. I. remember walking down the hallway and.

seeing him and just [music] my eyes lit. up and my heart was a flutter. John. Kerry was very charismatic. [music] He. was a really good-looking kid. It was. just this real attraction. I kind of. just waited and hoped that someday I'd. be able to go out with him. And that. finally happened in [music] I think it. was 9th grade. That young love leads to. marriage. The two make it official in. 1995.

>> We were married for 7 years. Then we had. a child. [music]. In the early days, there came a time. where he just basically said, "Can I try. this? There's a way to be like make your. orgasms more erotic, and I just want to, [music] you know, pretend I'm strangling. you or whatever." It just helps me get. off. I [music] kind of really didn't.

understand it, but because I was totally. in love with him. I went ahead and did. this, I think, play acting type thing. where he would either [music] take my. nylons or he would grab the belt on my. robe. I was afraid of anybody putting. anything around my neck. So I wouldn't. let them just, you know, [music]. strangle me unless I had some control.

And I was very strong. So I'd always. make sure I was on my stomach and I. would put my hand under. I remember at. one point I was crying. [music]. I was like screaming and crying and then. he did stop. I thought it was weird, but. like I knew other people that got into. stom masochism or whatever you want to. call it. Like, so I. figured out I was with somebody that. liked that type of stuff. So now I have. to deal with it. I'm married to him. I. love him. In my mind, [music] I I didn't.

think he was doing it for any other. purpose except for him to [music]. heighten his orgasm. As investigators. are looking at this, they're really. starting to see this puzzle pieces kind. of come together. They're looking at. clear Gravel's [music] murder. There was. no sexual assault. Now they're learning. from Charlene about somebody who's. interested in strangulation. And then. they have Rosemary Disc experience. When. it comes to John Kerry, his sex is.

[music] strangulation. That's what turns him on. Is it the fact. that he's controlling another person's. breathing? [music] Is it, you know, the. dominance? Is it the fear? I mean, there's a lots of possibilities there, [music] but it's always very. specifically about strangulation. >> In 2002, after [music] 7 years of. marriage, John and Charlene split up and. eventually divorce. >> When he left, he said to me, "Charlene, one of these days you're going to look.

back and wish you had left me sooner.". He [music] said, "There's a side of me. that you know nothing about." Never for. a million years thought. there was a dark side. And there is a dark side. There's a really dark side. >> So investigators in the Clare [music]. Gravel case now want to talk to John. Kerry. >> I'm John Kerry. How are you to meet? >> You think you you can identify a girl. for me? >> The detectives [music] showed him a. picture of Claire. A girl.

>> No, this just a tape recorder. Going to. be recording what's being sent here. >> Okay. >> You want John Kerry? Detectives from. Essex County went to conquered state. prison to see John Kerry who was doing. 20 years for the attempted murder and.

home invasion of Rosemary. He had no. idea why he was being interviewed. >> At this point, he has been in prison for. 5 years. Having these rights in mind. which can speak to us now. >> I don't know what we're talking about. So, let me I'll speak until we get to a. point where. >> Oh, yeah. We're not going to There's no. tricks. I'm not trying. Yeah. Okay. >> They spend a considerable amount of time. just kind of establishing rapport with. him. >> Do I You're a good golfer. Uh I used to.

be. You get the golf? No. No. I listened. for them. >> He has no idea that he is a suspect. because they tell him that there's been. a strangulation case and they like his. help. >> I was hoping to get some insight from. you on the strangulation thing. People. who do that for in a sexual nature and. people who do that for fun, I guess. I. mean, >> I mean, is that something that was. something you were into? >> That's my past. Yeah. >> You were into that your your whole life? >> No, not my whole life. >> He's very quick to say I don't do that.

anymore. >> Back in ' 86. >> Where'd you live in ' 86? >> Gloucester. >> Glouster area. So, did the the case I'm. working on was in that area. And I'm. hoping that maybe you maybe knew some. people who were into that sort of thing. back then. >> Um, >> yeah. I can't help you with that because. I I wasn't into it back then. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> John Kerry did everything to distance. himself from anything like that in 1986. >> At one point they show him a picture of.

Claire Gravel. >> Okay. Well, if I showed you a picture, you think you can identify a girl for. me? >> A girl? >> Yeah. Maybe back in ' 86. picture. >> [music]. >> And then the second time they showed him. this picture of Claire, he looked at it. He goes, "I need some. glasses to look at it.". >> My go glasses. No, they're I think.

they're 175s. >> Yeah, that's good. >> You don't have harm, do you? >> No, absolutely. These things like a little fog. It was. almost his way of like trying to be like. cooperative and friendly but putting on. a front. She. >> looks like a guy. >> That's an old picture. >> Yeah. No. >> Claire Grall. That's her name. Claire. Gabell. >> from Guid. >> She's She was from Well, she lived in. Salem at the time. She's from North. Andover. >> Yeah. >> Doesn't ring a bell at all.

>> No. Never said the North Andovers. They're trying to get him talking and. [music] then their plan all along is. they're going to hit him with the idea. that hey man, your DNA is on the tank. top on this poor dead young woman. How. do how do you explain it? >> At least I asked because she was found. strangled to death. and I'm asking maybe you could shed some. light on. why. >> Are you accusing me? >> That's fine. Well, I'm going to ask you. what we're going to tell you. >> Cuz we did find on the thing that.

strangled her. >> Yeah. the thing around her neck. Your. DNA was found. >> on this. Yeah. >> On that black thing around her neck. >> The photo was [music] a a almost a. Polaroid taken from one of the crime. scene photos. So, it depicted her face. and the liature around her neck. >> I don't even know what that black thing. is. It's. >> And he took it, looked at it quickly, and then pushed it very quickly away, as. far away from him as he could get it. >> Well, I don't know. >> And from that point in the conversation,

it was like he would refer to Claire's. picture really not as a human being but. as that. >> I mean maybe I could have run into her. at some point but I can tell you that. that's not my my thing 86. >> that that's a lot of years. >> I think you remember a girl if she you. were playing around with her. >> if I was showing that yeah I would have. absolutely would have no I'm telling you. you know who knows I could have been. dancing with that girl I could have.

>> were you I don't know. >> John Kerry is looking for a way to. explain. the evidence against him. And this. sounds very familiar to investigators. because [music]. this is exactly what he did in 2007 with. Rosemary Diskin. He realized what he. needed to explain away. >> Your DNA is around the murder weapon and. that's a huge problem for you. >> Yeah. You know, >> and you're claiming you have no. knowledge of her. You may have danced. with her. >> I don't know. Oh, I mean again I mean my.

>> I I I was with a lot of women. I mean a. lot of women I I understand that. >> I know it it's not I don't that's not. what we're saying. >> I'm not real happy about my past either. I'm not No. No, I'm not. Understand. that. I am not. Do what you have to do. I am not pleading to this thing. >> He denies [music]. denies denies it. And one of the things. he says is that's not my work. >> This is not my work. I did what I did that night with Rose.

I've done this stuff in the past. No, absolutely not. >> That is an odd thing to say. I mean, that's the kind of thing you would. expect somebody who has a track record. of perhaps strangling women would say. >> And they say, "Did you ever Google. Claire Gravel?" And he doesn't deny it. >> You ever Google Cla? Uh, I probably got a list of uh, strangulation victims and so forth and. then I I Googled them, I'm sure. >> Do you have a memory of doing that? >> I don't really have a me cuz I I did so.

many. >> It's mindboggling. Like, why would. anybody be remotely interested than. that? >> And he reaches a point in the interview. where he realizes these guys know a lot. more than they originally let on. And. then he shuts the interview down. >> That's enough. I'll not answer any more. questions. >> No, you're done. I'm done. All right. >> Not only do we have his DNA on the. murder weapon, but also everything that. he's saying just helps us even more in. this case. [music].

>> I felt confident that he's the right. guy. This [music] is the guy that killed. Claire. Well, tonight, a break in a murder on. the Northshore that went unsolved for. more than 35 years. The Essex District. Attorney announced that detectives. identified a suspect. More than three. decades after Claire Gravel's death, John Kerry is finally charged with. firstdegree murder. >> Earlier this morning, in Essex County, grand jury [music] indicted John Kerry,

63, for the murder in connection with. the strangulation death of Cla [music]. Gravel. >> They said, "We got him." I'm like, "Got. got him?" And they said, "Yeah, they're. arresting somebody for killing Claire.". And I remember I [music] started to cry. because. I just was stunned. My mother passed away in March of 2015. >> It's sad that my mom wasn't here to see. it,

but I just remember being ecstatic and. we're halfway home. Our next, you know, third base is the trial. >> Board is in session. You may be seated. >> Good morning, your honor. When the trial. started, John Kerry has a new story. So. he [music] writes this letter with some. kind of alibi. [music]. leading up to the trial. It was it was. nerve-wracking because it had been 40.

years. I never had that kind of emotion. [music] going into a trial before. >> What was that like for you in court and. to see him? John Ky, did you make eye. contact? >> I didn't. I I didn't want to, but for. the family to see this day that we. didn't think was going to happen, it was. [music] very fulfilling. >> Local Massachusetts station WHDH was. there in the courtroom for opening. [music] statements. >> John Kerry murdered Claire Gravel on.

June 29th, 1986, motivated by his. [music] sexual arousal to the act of. strangulation. The first thing that I. told the jury [music] was that there was. nothing cold about this case in 1986 at. all. The police simply ignored [music]. potential suspects. >> This investigation was absolutely. corrupted by bias and that evidence is. going to show that Mr. Kerry is not. guilty. >> Prosecutors call Roger Boule that.

bouncer from Major Mclashes who. remembers seeing Claire with that. mystery man the [music] night she. disappeared. This is audio from his. testimony. >> Well, he wasn't a regular, which was one. reason he stood out. And he wasn't uh. Yeah, he looked like he was going out. [music] for a night to have a good time. and dressed up. >> When I saw him in court and I made eye. contact with him, it all came rushing. back to me.

And yeah, it was him. It was It was the. guy I saw 40 years ago. Sorry. [snorts]. >> I'm not surprised that now 40 years. later a witness is saying, "Mr. Carrie, I recognize him as the person was who. was in the bar." That's exactly the. mischief of putting on a case that is. fueled by cognitive [music] bias. No one. ever identified Mr. Kerry as having been. in the bar before this trial [music]. occurred. >> So remember, John Ky originally said.

he'd never seen Claire Gravel before. Now he's coming to trial with a brand. [music] new story detailed in a letter. that he wrote from prison to his old. golf coach that used to coach him in the. 1980s. >> So this letter [music] is a letter that. uh John Kerry wrote in June of 2021. So uh [music] this was after the. interview he had done with the. detectives. It says, "I met Claire after. one of our Salem State outings in.

[music] June of 1984. I believe we got. into a scuffle at the end of the [music]. night when Claire's friends caught her. and I together in a bathroom of which. she followed me into.". [music]. >> He's looking for somebody to corroborate. his brand new story that he didn't. originally tell detectives that he did. know. clear gravel. >> John begins to think, the investigators. are telling me that my DNA is on this. murder weapon. I think any reasonable. [music] person in that circumstance.

might think to themselves, could I have. met this person? Could I have danced. with her in the bar? >> The golf coach testified that he didn't. keep any records from that event who was. there and didn't remember anything. [music] from the early 1980s. >> [music]. >> So, even though John Ky is now putting. himself at the bar that night, his. defense team insists that he's not the. murderer. In fact, they point their. finger [music] at James Stapleton. >> Remember, James Stapleton is that.

officer who says he was [music] sleeping. in his truck the night before Cla's body. was found. >> Their argument is that James [music]. Stapleton was never thoroughly. investigated and that he could be the. killer of Clare Gravel. >> Mr. Mr. Stapleton, I'm just going to. direct your attention to June 28th of. 1986. [music] Okay. Do you remember. where you were? >> I was at a [music] wedding. >> Whose wedding was it? >> My sister. >> So, the prosecution introduces pictures. [music] of him being at the wedding.

In these photos, [music] each side is. arguing something completely different. The prosecution is arguing that this. proves that he was someplace else and. he's got an airtight alibi. There were. witnesses [music] who testified that. they saw a man in the bar who was. wearing an outfit that uh looks quite. close to what the [music] outfit we know. Mr. Stapleton was wearing at his. sister's wedding. >> Do you know what they looked in your. truck at any time? >> I don't recall if they looked.

>> They never took a [music] photograph of. the truck. They never inspected the. interior of the truck. They never did. any of those things. >> Did you kill Gravel? >> No, ma'am. James Stapleton cooperated. He took. [music] police to the scene. He explains. what he was doing there. Essentially, who cares if they took pictures of the. truck? James Stapleton's [music] DNA is. not on the black tank top. John K's DNA. was. >> But the defense questions [music] that. DNA evidence, pointing out that it's.

touch DNA, which they argue can be left. behind in all kinds of ways. [music]. Could John's DNA have uh landed on the. tank top because he was in the bar and. interacted with Miss [music] Gravel? Perhaps. We just don't know. So, even if the jury struggles with the. idea that maybe there's some other way. that John K's DNA could have went up. [music] on her tank top, the judge also. lets in other information um regarding. his criminal history.

>> You're called to testify. What was that. like for [music] you? >> Well, I wanted to testify because I. wanted them to know exactly what he did. to me. >> And [music]. um what was he doing with the respect to. the noose that was around your neck? What was he doing with it? >> He's pulling it tighter and tighter. [music]. >> That's exactly what he did to her. >> Were you believing that this seemed like.

a pattern? That this could be the same. man? Oh, >> I knew it was the same man. I mean, why would he come to my house. and try to kill me? I had nothing to do. with him before. [music] So, um, obviously he strangled that girl, too. >> So, during their closing argument, the. prosecution attempts to answer questions. that they anticipate the jury might. have. I can't answer for you exactly how. Claire came to be with John Kerry, but.

based [snorts] on the evidence, I offer. you this. >> They basically say she voluntarily got. in Carrie's car. [music]. Um, they're driving north together, that. she may have stopped to go to the. bathroom. >> Baby Claire had a beer from somewhere. Maybe there was something in the car. [music] The '8s was a very different. time. She needed to stop and use the bathroom. and she takes her belongings and she. walks over and she places them down on. the grass. [music]. >> They they speculated that that's when.

Carrie thought this is my opportunity to. go and strangle her. Well, the problem is [music] there's no. evidence to support any of that. There's. absolutely no evidence that Miss Gravel. ever was in a car with uh John Carrey. There's no [music] evidence that Miss. Gravel uh stopped anywhere to use the. bathroom. But what actually happened? The only two people that know for sure. are Claire and John Kerry.

>> When the case went to the jury, I was. shaking. [music] That never happened. before. >> All it takes is one ounce of reasonable. doubt and this could get shut down. really quick. >> [music]. >> The jury, they got the case on a Monday. afternoon. A range of emotions are going.

through your head cuz it it's it's. you're hoping for the best. >> We were all holding hands. and holding our breath and then we heard. the word guilty and it was like this. gasp. >> When I heard those words, I actually. cried, which I've never done in court. before. What' you feel at that moment? Um, happiness for my mom.

Um, happiness for dad and happiness. for all of us. Just like we we got the. answers finally 40 years later. >> I haven't breathed in 40 years. Now I. can [music] breathe. It took decades, but today the siblings. of Claire Gravel finally had the chance. to confront their sister's killer. >> You and your siblings all spoke at the. sentencing hearing. >> Mhm. It was important for our family to. let him know how 40 years of agony felt.

[music]. >> Parents are not supposed to outlive. their children. [snorts]. Because of your cruel act, they had to. bury their little girl. [music] Today I stand here for Claire. I. stand here for the life she should have. had and the moments she should have been. a part of. I pray now [music] that Claire, my mom. and dad, and my siblings feel a sense of. peace which I have spent 39 years, 9.

months, and 9 days searching [music]. for. >> It is hereby ordered by the court that. you be punished. The judge sentences. Carrie to life in prison without the. [music] possibility of parole. >> 39 and a2 years it was unsolved and here. we are 40 years later with it solved. We. were the one of the unsolved families. out there and we no longer are. For all. the [music] unsolved. keep hope and we hear and see you.

>> I do visit Claire's grave. I most. recently went after the [music] trial. had ended because she's been such a part. of my whole law enforcement career. and I [music] just wanted to know like. you know you've been with me during all. of my career in law enforcement. So this is actually the first [music]. time that we've all been here together.

as one group in a long time. Mom and. Claire are buried side by side. and I would like to think that [music]. they're hugging right now. >> My father's. 90 years old and I [music] think my. father lived to be the age that he is. now because I think my father made a. promise to my mother and said, "I'm not [music] going until I find out. what happened to my little girl." My mom.

died March 8th, 2015. When the [music]. doctors declared her dead, a ray of. sunshine came in that hospital room. [music]. >> What do you think that meant? >> Claire was like, "Finally, mom, you're. with me.". >> Jim tells me he was comforted by that. ray of sun. David found it a bit. healing. He says that Claire's case is a. reminder that no matter how long it. takes, there's always hope for justice.

>> This story certainly proves that. We. should also note tonight that John Kerry. is appealing his first-degree murder. conviction. That is our program for. tonight. Thanks so much for watching. I'm David Mure. >> and I'm Deborah Roberts. From all of us. here at 2020 and ABC News, good night.