CT CT- Renee Freer, 8, missing enroute to friend's house, fatally struck on head, her body found in the woods behind her house, Monroe, 22/6/77, *DNA*

[dotr]

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/monroe-cold-case-renee-freer-19397518.php

rbbm.
"Monroe police have investigated this case for the past 47 years," said Monroe Police Lt. Kevin McKellick in the statement. "We’ve never considered it a cold case. It’s always been active for us. Recently, a local author named Erik Hanson is shining new light on this case, which we welcome."
''Prior to the video statement, McKellick said in the 1990s, other federal partners were brought in to review DNA evidence with the case.''
''A June 24, 1977 edition of The Bridgeport Post, now The Connecticut Post, said an autopsy revealed Freer died from two blows to the head. Police sent evidence from the crime scene to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for review.
In the video, Monroe Police Chief Keith White said police believe a juvenile known to Freer committed the crime.
"We are appealing to the suspect or his family to come forward with even the smallest pieces of information," White said. "We are confident that they know more than what has been disclosed in the past.:''

Monroe police ask killer to come forward after developments in cold case

The Monroe Police Department is asking whoever is responsible for the cold case killing of then- 8-year-old Renee Freer to come forward. Freer was murdered on June 22, 1977, and investigators said there hasn’t been a break in the case – until now. Police said the child was found dead in the...

www.nbcconnecticut.com

By Angela Fortuna • Published April 18, 2024 • Updated on April 18, 2024 at 4:59 pm​

Monroe Police Department
''The Monroe Police Department is asking whoever is responsible for the cold case killing of then- 8-year-old Renee Freer to come forward.
Freer was murdered on June 22, 1977, and investigators said there hasn't been a break in the case - until now.
Police said the child was found dead in the woods behind her house. For 47 years, investigators have been trying to piece together what happened that day and give closure to Freer's family.
"We've never considered it a cold case. It's always been active for us," Lt. Kevin McKellick said.
The police department said technological advances and social media have opened up new avenues for advancements in the case.''

 

[dotr]

rbbm

Monroe police say they have person of interest in nearly 50-year-old cold case

"We believe a juvenile known to Renee committed this crime. We are appealing to the suspect or his family to come forward at this time with even the smallest pieces of information. We are confident they know more than has been disclosed over the past several years," said Monroe Police Chief...

connecticut.news12.com

''New information may help Monroe police solve a nearly 50-year-old cold case.
Police say they have a person of interest in the murder of 8-year-old Renee Freer.
"This was a violent crime," said Monroe Police Chief Keith White.
"It appeared she had been murdered with a large rock," said Monroe Police Lt. Kevin McKellick.
Police say Freer was playing with her friends near her home on Williams Drive on June 22, 1977.
Old newspaper articles describe the story. Her mother had to run to the store and left the child in the care of her grandparents. Hours later, police found Freer's body in the woods not far from her home.
Police say she was hit repeatedly in the face with a rock that was found near her body. Police have been working this case since it first happened and say they still get tips.''

 

[Betty P]

rbbm

Monroe police say they have person of interest in nearly 50-year-old cold case

"We believe a juvenile known to Renee committed this crime. We are appealing to the suspect or his family to come forward at this time with even the smallest pieces of information. We are confident they know more than has been disclosed over the past several years," said Monroe Police Chief...

connecticut.news12.com

''New information may help Monroe police solve a nearly 50-year-old cold case.
Police say they have a person of interest in the murder of 8-year-old Renee Freer.
"This was a violent crime," said Monroe Police Chief Keith White.
"It appeared she had been murdered with a large rock," said Monroe Police Lt. Kevin McKellick.
Police say Freer was playing with her friends near her home on Williams Drive on June 22, 1977.
Old newspaper articles describe the story. Her mother had to run to the store and left the child in the care of her grandparents. Hours later, police found Freer's body in the woods not far from her home.
Police say she was hit repeatedly in the face with a rock that was found near her body. Police have been working this case since it first happened and say they still get tips.''

If they're still getting tips, it sounds like its someone local, probably known to Renee and her friends. She was playing with a group of friends that day, so its possible it was either one of the kids she was playing with or another kid who walked by their group. JMO

 

[Betty P]

There's a well written article from the June 24, 1977 Hartford Courant that mentions there were three young girls who were killed in the same manner as Renee Freer in 1969. All three girls were bludgeoned to death with large rocks, within 12 days of each other. Mary Mount, 10, of New Canaan, Dawn Cave, 14, of Bethany and Diane Toney, 11 of New Haven. Their killer(s) were never caught.

WS link for those murders

CT - CT - Serial Killer of Young Girls in 1969: Diane Toney, 11, Mary Mount, 10, Dawn Cave, 14

http://newcanaan.dailyvoice.com/news/wilton-death-girl-remains-unsolved-decades WILTON, Conn. – More than 40 years ago, 10-year-old Mary K. Mount disappeared from her New Canaan neighborhood, sparking a massive manhunt throughout Fairfield County that ended tragically in Wilton. About...

www.websleuths.com

WRT Renee Freer, the Hartford Courant article referenced above said Renee's halter top had been pulled down.

 

[dotr]

June 22, 2025, By Nicolás Viñuela lengthy article, rbbm.

Connecticut authorities believe 1977 blunt force murder of 8-year-old Renee Freer was committed by “lone juvenile male known to Renee”

A $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of her killer remains in effect.

www.nbcnews.com

''The Monroe Police Department interviewed “lots and lots” of people as part of the investigation over the years, according to Lt. McKellick. But as the years passed with no news about Renee’s killer, her loved ones began to lose hope that the case would be solved. “Years went on and on,” Lisa told Dateline. “We kinda didn’t see much light at the end of the tunnel.”

Over the years, Renee’s case continued to receive attention in the media and online. In April 2024, a Facebook group called “Who Killed Renee Freer?” was created to discuss the case. Months later, in December 2024, an author named E.C. Hanson published Dead End Road, a book delving into Renee’s case. In January 2025, NBC Connecticut also covered the case.

No one has ever been charged or arrested in connection with Renee’s murder. However, Lt. McKellick believes “it is possible to make an arrest,” and told Dateline the department continues to investigate. “We do have a suspect,” he said. “We believe the suspect is a lone juvenile male known to Renee.”

According to Lt. McKellick, the Monroe Police Department is currently in the process of testing DNA evidence related to the case. “We have been actively working with the crime lab here in Connecticut over the years, but I can’t go into specifics of what we’re doing,” he said.''

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A candlelight vigil was held in memory of Renee Freer outside Monroe Congregational Church

“I want to talk about my friend, a sweet girl, a bright light named Renee Freer, who was taken from us far too soon,” DiBlasi said.

She remembered sitting together every day with Renee and another friend, Abby, around a table in their third grade class.

“She had this beautiful, almost striking look about her, beautiful long brown hair and brown eyes and I even remember telling her once that she looked like Linda Ronstadt,” DiBlasi said of the famous singer, as laughter could be heard among those gathered. “She just laughed, a genuine lovely sound, at the idea. That was Renee, full of a happy grace and a wonderful laugh.”

“Then came the last day of school and Renee wasn’t at our table,” DiBlasi said, her voice shaking with emotion. “That day was one of the saddest of my life and it shook me to my nine-year-two-months-and-15 days core.”

DiBlasi called Renee’s murder “a heavy injustice that still hangs over our town today.”

The Renee Freer murder case: Candlelight vigil keeps a bright light burning | The Monroe Sun

Renee Freer was an outgoing eight-year-old, adored by her friends who affectionately nicknamed her Giggles for her infectious laugh. On June 22, 1977, police believe it was a male juvenile known to Renee, who took away her life, using a large rock as the murder weapon and leaving her body in the...

themonroesun.com

 

[LadyL]

I wonder what happened with their person of interest.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I wonder what happened with their person of interest.

A bad seed serial killer. Sounds plausible he could be the Perp in the other rock attack murders. This blood lust doesn’t go away. He likely started killing animals at as young age and escalated to humans. It’s not inconceivable that his murderous acts have continued. DNA needs to put this miscreant behind bars for good.

Amateur opinion and speculation