MA MA - CHRISTINE HURLBURT, 16, murdered, Mountain Park, 6 Oct 1968

[Richard]

CHRISTINE HURLBURT

On October 6, 1968, Christine Hurlburt, age 16, was reported missing after not returning home from a dance at the Mountain Park Ballroom the night before. Her body was found in the Mountain Park area on October 12, 1968.

Those with information about this case please contact the State Police Detective Unit at 413-505-5941 or the State Police Unresolved Cases Unit at 1-855-MA-SOLVE (1-855-627-6583) or you can text the word Solve to 274637 from your cell phone.

LINK:
Unsolved Homicides | Hampden District Attorney

 

[Richard]

Christine Hurlburt
BIRTH 1952
Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
DEATH 5 Oct 1968 (aged 15–16)
Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
BURIAL
Saint Jerome Cemetery
Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA

LINK:
Christine Hurlburt (1952-1968) - Find A Grave...

 

[Richard]

On Oct. 5, 1968, a Saturday night, Christine and a group of her friends were among over 800 persons present for a dance at the Mountain Park Ballroom, since destroyed by a fire. By 11 p.m. that night, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hurlburt of 245 Franklin Street, started to panic because their daughter had not arrived home.

Her disappearance was reported to the Holyoke Police Crime Prevention Bureau the next day, triggering an all out search...On Oct. 12, Christine’s lifeless body was found. The cause of death was listed as multiple blows to the head and strangulation. The teenager was found with a sweater around her neck and her blue blouse covering the lower parts of her body....

Her underwear was located a short distance from her head and she had been “criminally assaulted,” according to police. One of the factors that made the crime troubling as police sought a solution was the lack of a pinpointed time of death.

... police believed she was not killed where her body was found because groups of Mount Holyoke College students had been walking in that vicinity – on their annual leaf peeping trek – four days before the discovery of the murdered girl. It was thought that, if the body had been there, someone would have seen it.

...police ruled out Christine’s family members and friends after all passed lie detector tests they took voluntarily.

Once thought the most promising lead was the report of two men who were new to the weekly Mountain Park dances and were never seen before or after the night Christine disappeared. According to police, the pair – one in his mid 50s and the other in his mid 20s – bought tickets to get into the Oct. 5 dance. That was significant because it proved the men had no connection to the band and were not related to any person attending the dance as it was customary for family members or band officials to go into the ballroom for a short time without paying the admission price. The two men never were ruled out as suspects in Christine’s disappearance...

To provide information on this case, contact the Mass. State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office at 413-505-5993.

Link:

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[Jdub26]

All I want is closer for my mother who is the sister of Christine. And for me well it has sparked an interest in the dark and twisted and think if only I could solve this mystery maybe I wouldn’t be so dark and twisty myself

 

[Richard]

All I want is closer for my mother who is the sister of Christine. And for me well it has sparked an interest in the dark and twisted and think if only I could solve this mystery maybe I wouldn’t be so dark and twisty myself

Welcome to Websleuths, and please accept my sincere condolences.

The key to learning more in an attempt to resolve this sad case is to ask questions. Asking the right questions of the right persons is what will bring answers concerning your Aunt Christine's death.

As a close relative, you could request access to police files and reports that others might not be able to see.

 

[CityGirl80]

Welcome to Websleuths, and please accept my sincere condolences.

The key to learning more in an attempt to resolve this sad case is to ask questions. Asking the right questions of the right persons is what will bring answers concerning your Aunt Christine's death.

As a close relative, you could request access to police files and reports that others might not be able to see.

Hello, I am new to this site, I was and still am a admin for a FB on Holyoke. Christine's name popped on a feed recently, and I went back into messages and found something interesting. I snippet the conversation off FB. Not the best, but you can see the results. She never contacted me again. I thought if she contacted the police, I would have received a message on the website. Let me know it there is anything in the pics that might help. Thanks

 

[Jorgiexo]

Any Information on this unsolved case out of Holyoke Ma in October 1968 would be greatly appreciated. I filed a FOIA request for all case documents from FBI Boston division, Holyoke PD, MA State Police, and The District Attorneys Office. Any suggestions where else to look or any people you can put me in touch with are welcome <3 There is not information out there and this does not seem to be thoroughly investigated.

For instance - a new article states she had a disagreement and left the dance where she went missing but does not state who she had a disagreement with or if they were a person of interest. I also read about 2 men who attended the dance who normally did not go to the weekly dances. It seemed as if people were suspicious of them but they weren't mentioned again after that. I also read someone went to the DA with information about their family leaving Christine Hurlburts neighborhood in the middle of the night with only a few belongings. She thought her step dad might have been involved with this case but it looked like she didnt hear anything else regarding that.

Can anyone confirm or deny any of this information?

 

[Jorgiexo]

Hello, I am new to this site, I was and still am a admin for a FB on Holyoke. Christine's name popped on a feed recently, and I went back into messages and found something interesting. I snippet the conversation off FB. Not the best, but you can see the results. She never contacted me again. I thought if she contacted the police, I would have received a message on the website. Let me know it there is anything in the pics that might help. Thanks

Have you heard anything else regarding this? I filed a Freedom of Information Act Request today with the DA's office among other government/police agencies. This seems like a good place to start looking!!

 

[Richard]

This October will mark the 54 year anniversary of Christine's murder.

 

[LMB162]

Any Information on this unsolved case out of Holyoke Ma in October 1968 would be greatly appreciated. I filed a FOIA request for all case documents from FBI Boston division, Holyoke PD, MA State Police, and The District Attorneys Office. Any suggestions where else to look or any people you can put me in touch with are welcome <3 There is not information out there and this does not seem to be thoroughly investigated.

For instance - a new article states she had a disagreement and left the dance where she went missing but does not state who she had a disagreement with or if they were a person of interest. I also read about 2 men who attended the dance who normally did not go to the weekly dances. It seemed as if people were suspicious of them but they weren't mentioned again after that. I also read someone went to the DA with information about their family leaving Christine Hurlburts neighborhood in the middle of the night with only a few belongings. She thought her step dad might have been involved with this case but it looked like she didnt hear anything else regarding that.

Can anyone confirm or deny any of this information?

Contact me re: this case chiefbarry@gmail.com

 

[Palisades]

From the article portion in post three, 800 people present at this dance and they could say that two men were suspicious because they were new to the dance? Supposedly 2 people out of 800 present were unconnected to anyone else at this dance, and they could say that in 1968 with no video or social media or anything? I bet tickets were sold cash without any real records.

 

[Jorgiexo]

From the article portion in post three, 800 people present at this dance and they could say that two men were suspicious because they were new to the dance? Supposedly 2 people out of 800 present were unconnected to anyone else at this dance, and they could say that in 1968 with no video or social media or anything? I bet tickets were sold cash without any real records.

I'd really like to know how they bought tickets but others didnt It would be wonderful if there was a record of attendees but youre right it is doubtful

 

[LMB162]

From the article portion in post three, 800 people present at this dance and they could say that two men were suspicious because they were new to the dance? Supposedly 2 people out of 800 present were unconnected to anyone else at this dance, and they could say that in 1968 with no video or social media or anything? I bet tickets were sold cash without any real records.

I believe you are correct

 

[Jdub26]

On Oct. 5, 1968, a Saturday night, Christine and a group of her friends were among over 800 persons present for a dance at the Mountain Park Ballroom, since destroyed by a fire. By 11 p.m. that night, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hurlburt of 245 Franklin Street, started to panic because their daughter had not arrived home.

Her disappearance was reported to the Holyoke Police Crime Prevention Bureau the next day, triggering an all out search...On Oct. 12, Christine’s lifeless body was found. The cause of death was listed as multiple blows to the head and strangulation. The teenager was found with a sweater around her neck and her blue blouse covering the lower parts of her body....

Her underwear was located a short distance from her head and she had been “criminally assaulted,” according to police. One of the factors that made the crime troubling as police sought a solution was the lack of a pinpointed time of death.

... police believed she was not killed where her body was found because groups of Mount Holyoke College students had been walking in that vicinity – on their annual leaf peeping trek – four days before the discovery of the murdered girl. It was thought that, if the body had been there, someone would have seen it.

...police ruled out Christine’s family members and friends after all passed lie detector tests they took voluntarily.

Once thought the most promising lead was the report of two men who were new to the weekly Mountain Park dances and were never seen before or after the night Christine disappeared. According to police, the pair – one in his mid 50s and the other in his mid 20s – bought tickets to get into the Oct. 5 dance. That was significant because it proved the men had no connection to the band and were not related to any person attending the dance as it was customary for family members or band officials to go into the ballroom for a short time without paying the admission price. The two men never were ruled out as suspects in Christine’s disappearance...

To provide information on this case, contact the Mass. State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office at 413-505-5993.

Link:

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Richard are you Catherine’s ex-husband?

 

[Richard]

Richard are you Catherine’s ex-husband?

No. I simply started Christine's thread here on Websleuths. I hope that her murder might be solved even after so many years have passed.

 

[Richard]

Christine Hurlburt, age 15
BIRTH 27 Dec 1952
Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
DEATH 5 Oct 1968
Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
BURIAL Saint Jerome CemeteryHolyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
PLOT666

LINK:

Christine Hurlburt (1952-1968) - Find a Grave...

Born on 27 Dec 1952. Died on 5 Oct 1968. Buried in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA.

www.findagrave.com

 

[dotr]

Looked for and found this thread in anticipation (given the date) of a cold case reveal of some sort, unsure if it is this case or not.. fingers crossed. speculation, fwiw.
Nov 13, 2024

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/hampden-district-attorney-gulluni-to-provide-updates-on-decades-old-homicide-case/

"SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – New information is expected on Wednesday on a cold case from decades ago.
The Hampden District Attorney’s Office says they will be holding a news conference at 11:30 a.m. about a significant development in a murder case that was never solved.''

 

[Palisades]

Looked for and found this thread in anticipation (given the date) of a cold case reveal of some sort, unsure if it is this case or not.. fingers crossed. speculation, fwiw.
Nov 13, 2024

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/hampden-district-attorney-gulluni-to-provide-updates-on-decades-old-homicide-case/

"SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – New information is expected on Wednesday on a cold case from decades ago.
The Hampden District Attorney’s Office says they will be holding a news conference at 11:30 a.m. about a significant development in a murder case that was never solved.''

It is not about Christine Hurlburt - announcement at the link "71-year-old Timothy Scott Joley of Clearwater, Florida in the 1978 murders of Theresa Marcoux and Mark Harnish in West Springfield."

 

[Amanda1979]

This is my first time in this type of forum but I have a theory that I cannot let go of when it comes to this case. I am a Holyoke native born and raised and although I was not yet born when this murder took place, I have read and listened to everything I can on it. Again, I am unsure how to approach my thoughts and I am not intending to offend anyone but it's something that I have given great thought too. I have thought for quite some time now that Christine may have been one of the first victims of Ted Bundy. As you are aware, Mountain Park was the place to be in the year of 1968 and they had advertising near and far. According to records, which is were am I stuck, Ted Bundy traveled to Burlington, Vermont in either 1968 or 1969 to inquire about the records of his birth, as he was born in the Elizabeth Lund Home for unwed mothers in Burlington in November of 1946. The M.O. of Christine's murder is remarkably similar to that of Bundy. She was strangled and assaulted and there is speculation that her body was moved from were she was killed. I theorize that after Bundy discovered that he was in fact born out of wedlock with no father listed on his birth certificate (he was told his grandparents were his parents, and his mother his older sister) he took his rage out on someone. It's not too far to think he may have seen or heard of Mountain Park in his travels to and from Vermont as he would have traveled by car or train or bus. I know I may be rambling and I apologize for doing so, but it's something I have been thinking much about lately. I may be completely off track but I figured it doesn't hurt to suggest in a case which has no suspects or resolution. I hope my theory is not inappropriate and I do apologize if it is taken as so. Thank you for indulging me! Amanda

 

[Palisades]

This is my first time in this type of forum but I have a theory that I cannot let go of when it comes to this case. I am a Holyoke native born and raised and although I was not yet born when this murder took place, I have read and listened to everything I can on it. Again, I am unsure how to approach my thoughts and I am not intending to offend anyone but it's something that I have given great thought too. I have thought for quite some time now that Christine may have been one of the first victims of Ted Bundy. As you are aware, Mountain Park was the place to be in the year of 1968 and they had advertising near and far. According to records, which is were am I stuck, Ted Bundy traveled to Burlington, Vermont in either 1968 or 1969 to inquire about the records of his birth, as he was born in the Elizabeth Lund Home for unwed mothers in Burlington in November of 1946. The M.O. of Christine's murder is remarkably similar to that of Bundy. She was strangled and assaulted and there is speculation that her body was moved from were she was killed. I theorize that after Bundy discovered that he was in fact born out of wedlock with no father listed on his birth certificate (he was told his grandparents were his parents, and his mother his older sister) he took his rage out on someone. It's not too far to think he may have seen or heard of Mountain Park in his travels to and from Vermont as he would have traveled by car or train or bus. I know I may be rambling and I apologize for doing so, but it's something I have been thinking much about lately. I may be completely off track but I figured it doesn't hurt to suggest in a case which has no suspects or resolution. I hope my theory is not inappropriate and I do apologize if it is taken as so. Thank you for indulging me! Amanda

I don't want to fully say no to your theory, but she is very outside of Bundy's preferences of long-haired brunettes.

If anyone should be looked into based on similarities, it should be Donald Mars. Betty Lou Zukowski was a 10 year old Chicopee girl who got in a car with 17 year old neighbor Donald Mars in 1966. He drove her around and murdered her in West Springfield. He was connected to the crime only in 2022. He has convictions in the interceding years for child molestation. There is an age difference between 10 and 15, but within two years, manner of death for both included blows to the head, and both the girls look similar.

Per Christine's Find A Grave she was born December 27 1952, making her a little under 3 months short of 16.