Found Deceased MA - Henry Bedard, 15, found murdered, Swampscott, 16 Dec 1974

[WSFalcon]

I have never forgotten about this case as I grew up nearby and remember the news and feeling in town at the time as well as years later. I stumbled across this site and became interested hoping it would help solve a tragedy and bring some peace or closure to the family.
Some good input by many on this forum so just posting some summaries from my end.
IMO:
-I tend to be skeptical of information that I see on line, in Social Media, etc. I do not discount it per say but remember that it may not be accurate. I have seen inaccurate information.
-I often went back and forth and ended up in a circle on who could have done this (i.e. random violence, a perp that happened to be nearby or was out stalking, local adult/coach/teacher-that lived nearby that was an unknown perp, Henry just happened to be cutting thru or did he go up there to meet someone, it could be someone from his close circle of friends yet if so, how could they keep it quiet or not arose any suspicions from other close friends for so long, etc.)
-IMO this was not a short cut home for Henry and was not a short-cut that was taken by any0ne in the area on a regular basis. It was not easy to walk up the way he went and it did not save time.
-I now agree with others that Henry most likely arranged to meet someone up there or was lured up there by someone for some reason (i.e. see something cool, smoke pot, whatever....). He could have seen someone while shopping or walking home, it could have been arranged at school or on the bus, etc.
-I do not think it was over money. Other locals have agreed that it was not over money.
-Some thinking by locals was that he ran across a group of older kids. He could have been targeted or somewhat random such as an argument or fight and things got out of hand. IMO this seems the most likely case.
-Some locals had thought that the police knew or had a good idea who did this but were protecting the family or looking the other way. Not a cover up per say but not actively pursuing certain people.
-IMO unfortunately there is very little evidence that will solve this, and it will not be until someone comes forward that either did it, witnessed it first hand or the people who did it confessed to someone who eventually comes forward with that info.
RIP Henry-hopefully there can be some closure for the family.

 

[Betty P]

I'm glad all of you who are sort of local are contributing here.

I'm from the midwest, have never been to Massachusetts, let alone Swampscott, but I came across Henry's thread here at WS a few years ago. It was one of those cases that was so tragic, but should have been solved, could still be solved. I felt so badly for his family.

So I started adding a few things and bumping it now and then. So I'm glad you all are here and are helping the case get more attention again. I really hope the killer will be revealed eventually.

 

[EndlessEnigma]

Valid point/comment. I have heard some locals state something similar.

I think certain family members have let her in on whatever info has been released from LE. She has worked closely with family to keep Henry’s case in the spotlight.

 

[seichem745]

I have never forgotten about this case as I grew up nearby and remember the news and feeling in town at the time as well as years later. I stumbled across this site and became interested hoping it would help solve a tragedy and bring some peace or closure to the family.
Some good input by many on this forum so just posting some summaries from my end.
IMO:
-I tend to be skeptical of information that I see on line, in Social Media, etc. I do not discount it per say but remember that it may not be accurate. I have seen inaccurate information.
-I often went back and forth and ended up in a circle on who could have done this (i.e. random violence, a perp that happened to be nearby or was out stalking, local adult/coach/teacher-that lived nearby that was an unknown perp, Henry just happened to be cutting thru or did he go up there to meet someone, it could be someone from his close circle of friends yet if so, how could they keep it quiet or not arose any suspicions from other close friends for so long, etc.)
-IMO this was not a short cut home for Henry and was not a short-cut that was taken by any0ne in the area on a regular basis. It was not easy to walk up the way he went and it did not save time.
-I now agree with others that Henry most likely arranged to meet someone up there or was lured up there by someone for some reason (i.e. see something cool, smoke pot, whatever....). He could have seen someone while shopping or walking home, it could have been arranged at school or on the bus, etc.
-I do not think it was over money. Other locals have agreed that it was not over money.
-Some thinking by locals was that he ran across a group of older kids. He could have been targeted or somewhat random such as an argument or fight and things got out of hand. IMO this seems the most likely case.
-Some locals had thought that the police knew or had a good idea who did this but were protecting the family or looking the other way. Not a cover up per say but not actively pursuing certain people.
-IMO unfortunately there is very little evidence that will solve this, and it will not be until someone comes forward that either did it, witnessed it first hand or the people who did it confessed to someone who eventually comes forward with that info.
RIP Henry-hopefully there can be some closure for the family.

it was stated on this site by another poster who i don't know that a friend of his stated that Henry came across a group of older kids that hated Henry and i reposted this info and believed it for a while. I no longer believe Henry came across this group randomly. I believe he was lured up there, possibly by the killer using a female. I believe it took an event to make this person "hate Henry" if in fact he did hate him. I believe whatever "rage" was expressed from an older boy to a younger boy, 3 years difference. ( an 18 year old wouldn't even punch a 15 year old because he would be called out for it) had to be in the mind of the killer, something that festered and grew to an insane degree. I think it is a possible reason it was easier to keep quiet because of the age difference the killers didn't have anything to brag about. it would be more of an embarrassment.

 

[WSFalcon]

it was stated on this site by another poster who i don't know that a friend of his stated that Henry came across a group of older kids that hated Henry and i reposted this info and believed it for a while. I no longer believe Henry came across this group randomly. I believe he was lured up there, possibly by the killer using a female. I believe it took an event to make this person "hate Henry" if in fact he did hate him. I believe whatever "rage" was expressed from an older boy to a younger boy, 3 years difference. ( an 18 year old wouldn't even punch a 15 year old because he would be called out for it) had to be in the mind of the killer, something that festered and grew to an insane degree. I think it is a possible reason it was easier to keep quiet because of the age difference the killers didn't have anything to brag about. it would be more of an embarrassment.

I think some of what you describe above is probably true, though IMO I feel that we do not know what actually happened. If one of Henry's friends did state or post that Henry came across an older group of kids, it was more recent, as for years including well into adult hood, such as stated in the Chronicle story and other follow-up newspaper articles, one of Henry's closest friends indicates that he did not know who did this or what happened.
You have mentioned that you believe it was an 18 yr. old SHS Sr. student in a few posts. It very well could be, but since we do not know, it could be a lone 16 yr old,..... Is there any evidence or clues other than the above conjecture that it was an 18 yr. old senior?
I don't think the killer being a few years older than Henry has much to do with keeping it quiet as they would not feel the need to brag since assaulting a younger kid would be embarrassing (?). I do think the killer being outside of his friend group or perhaps a different age or grade may make it a little easier to keep quiet as Henry's friends may not know or interact with him so they would be less of a suspect. Henry's close friend mentioned that the police focused on the friend group and they need to look elsewhere, and some in LE publicly stated they thought is was a friend or someone close to Henry.
I would be interested to hear what more locals or ex-LE thought. The rumor of Henry running into an older group of kids seems to be the most likely to me, though we do not know.

 

[EndlessEnigma]

it was stated on this site by another poster who i don't know that a friend of his stated that Henry came across a group of older kids that hated Henry and i reposted this info and believed it for a while. I no longer believe Henry came across this group randomly. I believe he was lured up there, possibly by the killer using a female. I believe it took an event to make this person "hate Henry" if in fact he did hate him. I believe whatever "rage" was expressed from an older boy to a younger boy, 3 years difference. ( an 18 year old wouldn't even punch a 15 year old because he would be called out for it) had to be in the mind of the killer, something that festered and grew to an insane degree. I think it is a possible reason it was easier to keep quiet because of the age difference the killers didn't have anything to brag about. it would be more of an embarrassment.

Henry’s friend said on a Facebook page, it was neither random nor planned, but simply a wrong place, wrong time scenario. Whatever that means. I would assume he walked up on something he wasn’t supposed to see or know about. IMO.

 

[EndlessEnigma]

From an article:
"By 3:40, Bedard was almost a mile south of the CVS when several town workers spotted him walking across the DPW lot. 'He looked up and said, "Merry Christmas," ' said Tom Scanlon, who remembers seeing Bedard walking toward the abandoned railroad tracks that sit next to the DPW yard. Scanlon said Bedard held up a bag and told the town workers he was going home to wrap Christmas presents. The men watched Bedard disappear into the woods, onto the path of the former rail line. Scanlon then went back to work inside the wooden building just 10 feet underneath the ledge. Within the next 15 minutes, Bedard would be attacked just above the workers' heads and left to die. 'We never heard anything,' said Scanlon."

Regarding Henry

I bumped this up from first page. I remember my first instinct was the DPW workers, then I started hearing/reading other things. Hard to believe they didn’t hear or see anyone else around if they were only ten feet from the crime scene.

 

[jgfitzge]

Henry’s friend said on a Facebook page, it was neither random nor planned, but simply a wrong place, wrong time scenario. Whatever that means. I would assume he walked up on something he wasn’t supposed to see or know about. IMO.

OK, so this speaks to what I’ve always believed. I always felt given the presence of a baseball bat more than one person came at Henry. Then let’s talk about what Henry stumbled onto where one of the perps would have a bat? Drugs? If we are talking small time, low quantity 16-18 year olds not sure they would get bent out of shape over a 15 year old walking by. Plus, getting back to that bat, if I’m in high school no way I am buying pot off a group in the woods where one of them is wielding a bat. Was the bat used as a threat to something going on of a sexual nature? I keep coming back to why would someone be carrying a bat on a cold day before Christmas?

 

[seichem745]

Henry’s friend said on a Facebook page, it was neither random nor planned, but simply a wrong place, wrong time scenario. Whatever that means. I would assume he walked up on something he wasn’t supposed to see or know about. IMO.

wrong place wrong time has to do with incident that started this scenario months previous. Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed something to do with his killer. the person on face book was describing how henry was connected to his killer. it was stated they knew each other but were not friends ( age difference but both shs students earlier that year) so it was not a random killing, there was a reason his killer was enraged, the meeting on dec 16th was planned but not to be a murder. the bat was meant to scare or intimidate.

 

[WSFalcon]

From an article:
"By 3:40, Bedard was almost a mile south of the CVS when several town workers spotted him walking across the DPW lot. 'He looked up and said, "Merry Christmas," ' said Tom Scanlon, who remembers seeing Bedard walking toward the abandoned railroad tracks that sit next to the DPW yard. Scanlon said Bedard held up a bag and told the town workers he was going home to wrap Christmas presents. The men watched Bedard disappear into the woods, onto the path of the former rail line. Scanlon then went back to work inside the wooden building just 10 feet underneath the ledge. Within the next 15 minutes, Bedard would be attacked just above the workers' heads and left to die. 'We never heard anything,' said Scanlon."

Regarding Henry

I bumped this up from first page. I remember my first instinct was the DPW workers, then I started hearing/reading other things. Hard to believe they didn’t hear or see anyone else around if they were only ten feet from the crime scene.

.....if they were only ten feet from the crime scene....They were actually quite a bit more than 10 ft. from the crime scene. I have been in that DPW yard a # of times. The crime scene was in the wooded area up on top of a large high hill or cliff above the DPW.
We really do not know how much of a commotion, if there was a fight or if there was an argument with any shouting, etc. I have been told that Henry was hit from behind with no defensive wounds so he may not have seen it coming.
Along with DPW, there was a very busy gas station/garage that abuts the DPW as well as houses not far away from the woods, though it was winter with doors and windows closed. The main street can be busy and noisy as well.
I have wondered about the DPW worker only because he was the last known person to see Henry alive but I know people that knew him and my understanding he was not considered a suspect so I assumed he was also cleared.

 

[WSFalcon]

Henry’s friend said on a Facebook page, it was neither random nor planned, but simply a wrong place, wrong time scenario. Whatever that means. I would assume he walked up on something he wasn’t supposed to see or know about. IMO.

I have heard some question the source of that information.

 

[EndlessEnigma]

I have heard some question the source of that information.

His “girlfriend,” at the time of his death, posted it. Others in the post claim the suspect is dead now.

 

[WSFalcon]

His “girlfriend,” at the time of his death, posted it. Others in the post claim the suspect is dead now.

Yes, understood.

 

[seichem745]

His “girlfriend,” at the time of his death, posted it. Others in the post claim the suspect is dead now.

it is also posted "we would like at least an arrest" which means that the killer is alive and well.

 

[seichem745]

you don't seem to realize their is nothing to come forward with. no one has any evidence. not one person who has repeated this scenario can prove anything. LE can't prove anything, the people who have kept this case alive can't prove anything.

people are fearful because they don't want to accuse dangerous people of murder when there is no evidence. it is simply common sense.

all the statements that are written that we have access to points to a few people claiming they know who did it, some won't discuss it, some have stated they are fearful. it has been written that the people closest to the case are DONE LOOKING. it has been stated "we know who was there"

I personally don't see any reason to deny that many know who did it, no one can prove a thing including LE. I don't see the point in judging the credibility of everyone who is making statements that support this scenario.

 

[WSFalcon]

you don't seem to realize their is nothing to come forward with. no one has any evidence. not one person who has repeated this scenario can prove anything. LE can't prove anything, the people who have kept this case alive can't prove anything.

people are fearful because they don't want to accuse dangerous people of murder when there is no evidence. it is simply common sense.

all the statements that are written that we have access to points to a few people claiming they know who did it, some won't discuss it, some have stated they are fearful. it has been written that the people closest to the case are DONE LOOKING. it has been stated "we know who was there"

I personally don't see any reason to deny that many know who did it, no one can prove a thing including LE. I don't see the point in judging the credibility of everyone who is making statements that support this scenario.

I agree with a lot of above though that is not what was stated as the reason why a person/poster stated that they or someone they knew was afraid to come forward. That is what I was commenting on.
I would agree that some close to the case or LE may have an idea or think that they know who might have did this but can't prove it.
Just hope the continued attention may somehow help to bring long overdue justice which may help to bring some closure and peace to the family. RIP Henry.

 

[EndlessEnigma]

you don't seem to realize their is nothing to come forward with. no one has any evidence. not one person who has repeated this scenario can prove anything. LE can't prove anything, the people who have kept this case alive can't prove anything.

people are fearful because they don't want to accuse dangerous people of murder when there is no evidence. it is simply common sense.

all the statements that are written that we have access to points to a few people claiming they know who did it, some won't discuss it, some have stated they are fearful. it has been written that the people closest to the case are DONE LOOKING. it has been stated "we know who was there"

I personally don't see any reason to deny that many know who did it, no one can prove a thing including LE. I don't see the point in judging the credibility of everyone who is making statements that support this scenario.

If others were there why don’t they come forward. Only one person wielded the bat. If There were eyewitnesses, Why are they staying quiet. You can’t falsely accuse someone if you were there and saw it.

 

[seichem745]

If others were there why don’t they come forward. Only one person wielded the bat. If There were eyewitnesses, Why are they staying quiet. You can’t falsely accuse someone if you were there and saw it.

if there were 3 people there and one passed away that would leave only 2 to keep a secret. that wouldn't be that hard especially if they are loyal to each other.

 

[seichem745]

I agree with a lot of above though that is not what was stated as the reason why a person/poster stated that they or someone they knew was afraid to come forward. That is what I was commenting on.
I would agree that some close to the case or LE may have an idea or think that they know who might have did this but can't prove it.
Just hope the continued attention may somehow help to bring long overdue justice which may help to bring some closure and peace to the family. RIP Henry.

that person wouldn't even tell his good friend anything but vague info, I believe that persons fear is real. I can't see any reason to make up a story like that. If there is a confession i really don't know if it will bring anything positive to anyone. I imagine that a lot of friends of the killer will be shocked and hurt. but that being said, the 50th anniversary is coming up and it would be a shame to let that pass without some kind of social outcry.

 

[seichem745]

I have never heard anything about why. the poster mentioned his friend said that older kids hated henry but if that is true then again the question is why? I believe this murder was very personal, if the killer worked himself up into a hatred for henry there was a reason and it most likely took time. so i speculate that something happened earlier in the year. i believe when it was stated wrong place wrong time, that was about the initial event that put this in motion, not about the events of dec 1974. i feel their is a story here, a history between henry and the killer, a connection, not friendship.