Katharina Buczek
So, both James and Eugene have claimed to have no idea what happened to the 14-year-old that night. Each boy also maintains that the other boy had been the last person to see Melanie.
After she did not return home that evening, Melanie’s grandmother awoke the next morning and realized the teen was not there. At that point, her grandmother began calling family, friends, and even some of the party’s attendees to figure out what had happened.
Melanie’s family was unable to determine her whereabouts, though, so they were forced to report her missing to the authorities.
In the beginning, investigators believed that the 14-year-old might have left on her own accord. This was due to a prior runaway attempt.
This theory did not last long, though, because authorities soon learned that Melanie had various things to look forward to. For instance, she was just five days away from celebrating her 15th birthday.
Melanie was also eager to get her braces off and go shopping with her father for a birthday present– a trip that was supposed to happen the day after her disappearance.
Due to this, investigators believe that the 14-year-old was a victim of foul play. Additionally, they think her remains are still somewhere in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Over 33 years have passed since Melanie’s disappearance, and authorities have continued their investigation into her case. They think that the 14-year-old was killed that evening and believe that her remains were either left in the region where the party was held or moved to a different location.
In 1992, police received an anonymous tip detailing how Melanie had been inside a car at the bottom of a pond. After following up on this tip and searching the water, though, investigators found nothing.
So, Melanie’s case sat cold until 2009, when there was another push for new information. That year, the investigation into her disappearance was reopened, and authorities received another tip regarding a region near the General Foods Plant– not far from where the party was held in 1989.
After excavating this area, though, investigators again walked away empty-handed.
