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

[jgfitzge]

It's been 4 years since I started this thread (after reading Regarding Henry) and I'm happy to see the new links and ideas you've all posted. In this particular case I never got a "flash" of what might have happened to Henry, except that there was a baseball field very close.... so I figured it was more likely a young person than a random homeless person hitching a train ride or walking the tracks.

A friend recently said he thought it was a DPW worker who was sick of the noise that the kids made, hanging out "over" their office.

Do you all think it was most likely another kid his age who, in a fight over a girl or money or whatever, went overboard in hurting Henry? How could a teen live with himself after doing that? And keep it a secret all these years?

I haven't checked really carefully, but the original article WITH PHOTOS OF SOME PEOPLE INVOLVED seemed to illuminate things more than just the words. Maybe one of us can find that version and link it. I'll look.

I agree on your point - I really believe this is one of those cases where a teen at the time, now in his fifties needs to unload what he/she knows...sometimes it is all timing. It could be a matter of a couple of cold case detectives re-interviewing some of the teens...

 

[jgfitzge]

Just keeping the thread alive...and hope someone comes forward. Below is an article concerning the death of the former Swampscott police chief, Peter Cassidy and how Henry's case haunted him...

http://www.salemnews.com/news/local...cle_82c412c1-83d3-5e3b-a303-6df101d93c8b.html

 

[jgfitzge]

Came across this March, 2005 article from a Google Group page - Tim Cassidy is former Swampscott Police Chief's Peter Cassidy's son. I don't about the connection between a 1941 murder and two 1970's cold case murders....

http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:67NdliOqc-wJ:www.wesx1230.com/news.htm+Frances+Cochran+murder&hl=en
Swampscott
An Anonymous tip is prompting a new investigation into two murders
decades apart. Swampscott Sgt. Tim Cassidy says the department received
credible information regarding an unsolved murder from 1941. According
to Cassidy the caller left some information about the murder scene and
left a name of a former Swampscott resident who was the murderer of
Frances Corcoran. Swampscott police say there are similarities with the
1941 murder case and the unsolved murders of 15-year-old Paula
Kallenback and 15-year-old Henry E. Bedard Jr. Frances Cochran's body
was found on July 20, 1941 on Swampscott road, mutilated, and partially
burned. Beard's body was found in a wooded area between Suffolk Ave
and Paradise Road in December of 1974, and Kallneback's body was
found in 1979 she was sexually abused and beaten with a baseball bat
that was found at the scene. Police believe all three are connected
somehow and say they are very anxious to speak with this individual
again because we believe he may have information that could help us
solve other cases."

 

[UnlicensedPI]

At 5-foot-4 and 135 pounds, he had earned a spot on the junior varsity football team. Friends remember him as a scrappy kid with a good sense of humor who would never back down from a threat.​

I don't think his attacker was physically intimidated by him. If that description is accurate, he was very small. If the killer was smaller than him, they might be younger or female.

He is described in multiple sources as a charming ladies' man. I wonder if this was over a girl. Maybe he flirted with the wrong guy's girlfriend? This is just brainstorming, but I wonder if he bought another gift at CVS and was going to meet a girl there to give it to her. Instead, he ran into her boyfriend. Or, he was going there to fight someone. Either way, I think telling the DPW workers he was going home to wrap presents was a red herring of sorts on Bedard's part. Again, just a theory.

I grew up a town over from Swampscott and still live in the area. Although I am much younger than this case, I recognize some of the names and faces from his yearbook. I know what 15 year old boys from the area can be like, and I think I have a good idea of his personality. If he was athletic, popular, flirty, and scrappy, he was probably no stranger to fighting. It's a small town but that doesn't mean it has no secrets, especially in regards to its teenagers.

If the baseball bat had belonged to the hangout space, I think the kids would have said it was always there and anyone could have had access to it.

I wonder if anyone would be able to find records of the baseball teams in the area at the time, and if we could identify #6. I wonder how far outside Swampscott the investigation was conducted and if the neighboring towns were checked. Since the towns here are so small, kids tend to hang out in more than their hometown with more than their classmates. After so much time, someone must be ready to talk.

 

[jgfitzge]

I don't think his attacker was physically intimidated by him. If that description is accurate, he was very small. If the killer was smaller than him, they might be younger or female.

He is described in multiple sources as a charming ladies' man. I wonder if this was over a girl. Maybe he flirted with the wrong guy's girlfriend? This is just brainstorming, but I wonder if he bought another gift at CVS and was going to meet a girl there to give it to her. Instead, he ran into her boyfriend. Or, he was going there to fight someone. Either way, I think telling the DPW workers he was going home to wrap presents was a red herring of sorts on Bedard's part. Again, just a theory.

I grew up a town over from Swampscott and still live in the area. Although I am much younger than this case, I recognize some of the names and faces from his yearbook. I know what 15 year old boys from the area can be like, and I think I have a good idea of his personality. If he was athletic, popular, flirty, and scrappy, he was probably no stranger to fighting. It's a small town but that doesn't mean it has no secrets, especially in regards to its teenagers.

If the baseball bat had belonged to the hangout space, I think the kids would have said it was always there and anyone could have had access to it.

I wonder if anyone would be able to find records of the baseball teams in the area at the time, and if we could identify #6. I wonder how far outside Swampscott the investigation was conducted and if the neighboring towns were checked. Since the towns here are so small, kids tend to hang out in more than their hometown with more than their classmates. After so much time, someone must be ready to talk.

I was thinking the same thing about the bat, that is the marking on the handle. In various reports and when I look at pictures it could be a VI. I am wondering if it as simple as Varsity 1, to keep it from getting mixed in with the JV bats?

Maybe I am thinking of what I did or would have done when I was Henry's age (we are close..) if I was going to a fight alone, my antenna would be up and If I saw someone approaching me with a bat or with another person, I would run..(remember, don't bring a knife to a gun fight..) That is why I think it was more than one person who attacked him..

I really believe now is the time to apply some pressure on persons of interest, as I believe someone (I think more than one..) knows what happened.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I was thinking the same thing about the bat, that is the marking on the handle. In various reports and when I look at pictures it could be a VI. I am wondering if it as simple as Varsity 1, to keep it from getting mixed in with the JV bats?

Maybe I am thinking of what I did or would have done when I was Henry's age (we are close..) if I was going to a fight alone, my antenna would be up and If I saw someone approaching me with a bat or with another person, I would run..(remember, don't bring a knife to a gun fight..) That is why I think it was more than one person who attacked him..

I really believe now is the time to apply some pressure on persons of interest, as I believe someone (I think more than one..) knows what happened.

I agree, it definitely could have been more than one person.

Another theory I was playing with was that he could have been in the closet and meeting up with someone for a tryst, but it does seem unlikely given that it was a popular hangout. Even though it was supposedly isolated in winter, I would think it would be too risky.

I'm pretty sure this is where he was found: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.475...4!1siQ5gKQ8Zr_4YGcEk1F1wjw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I've spoken with two people from the next town over. These communities are very closely knit, both being small towns where everybody knows everyone else's business.

The first person would have been the same age as Henry. He may have been involved in sports around the same time. He has no memory of the case.

The second person is a current law enforcement officer. He had never even heard of the murder.

It makes me wonder how far outside Swampscott the police really looked.

 

[jgfitzge]

I've spoken with two people from the next town over. These communities are very closely knit, both being small towns where everybody knows everyone else's business.

The first person would have been the same age as Henry. He may have been involved in sports around the same time. He has no memory of the case.

The second person is a current law enforcement officer. He had never even heard of the murder.

It makes me wonder how far outside Swampscott the police really looked.

I find their responses curious..It is not like Swampscott had a history of infamous murder cases. I fully realize there has not been a lot of press in the last 20-30 years on the case but, I live in the Boston area and before I became even more interested in true crime, I heard of the case. Do you think the LEO knew about the case but just didn't want to rehash it?

I have no way of knowing for sure but after reading everything I could about the Henry Bedard case I really feel it is one of those cases where more than one or two people know what happened and if a little pressure is applied the secret comes out...

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I do not believe the LEO knew about the case. He is a relative of mine and younger than Henry Bedard (so, not a LEO at the time of the murder). He wouldn't lie to me about it.

I am from the next town over. I am very interested in true crime. I had not heard of the case until I found this thread.

I also learned the Facebook group is still active, it's just private. Some people on there think he stumbled onto gang activity, but that doesn't make sense to me as there would most likely be multiple victims in that circumstance. Some think he was taking a shortcut home and that he never hung out where he died, but the Regarding Henry articles say otherwise.

 

[jgfitzge]

Bumping for Henry - Someone knows something...

Below is WCVB (Channel 5) Chronicale's 2/17/2005 showing regarding Henry Bedard Jr.'s murder in Swampscott, MA

 

[Sneaker33]

Just curious, was it ever determined whether or not he was sexually assaulted? Someone had asked about that a couple of years ago, but I didn't happen to notice a reply. That would make a huge difference as to the motive of the crime.

It has never been mentioned so I would say no.

 

[jgfitzge]

Just bumping this case up, hoping someone sees it and does something...IMO this is a classic "someone knows something" case. I just got to thinking, I believe our current governor, Charles Baker lives in Swampscott.

 

[Betty P]

Just bumping this case up, hoping someone sees it and does something...IMO this is a classic "someone knows something" case. I just got to thinking, I believe our current governor, Charles Baker lives in Swampscott.

Thanks for keeping this case bumped up here. We'd all like to see this resolved.

 

[Betty P]

Some links to newspaper stories about Henry's murder at Newspapers.com. Subscription needed to view.

• His body was semi-buried/covered with leaves, etc. That's why his family couldn't find him when they searched the first night.
  
• His wallet was open and laying nearby. LE estimated Henry had about $37 in his wallet and it was missing.
• State police examined the baseball bat used to bludgeon Henry. It was a Little League, "Hank Aaron" bat, so it wasn't very old. They would have been very popular at that time. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record the summer before Henry was murdered. LE reached out to many Little League groups, but couldn't find any who recognized it.
  
• There were 2 partial fingerprints on the bat, along with Henry's own blood
  
• Henry's clothing and the bat used to kill him were sent out for DNA testing
  
• Henry used to play cards on Swampscott View hill during the summer, but it wasn't a place where kids hung out
• Some also consider the route Henry took that day over SV hill wasn't really a short cut
• Within an hour of his murder, some 10 year old kids who lived near Suffolk Ave. actually found Henry's empty wallet and the bag with the perfume Christmas gift, but left the items there. The kids returned the next day after school and found Henry's body

18 Dec 1974, 18 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com

19 Dec 1974, 22 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com

18 Dec 1974, 3 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com

2 Jan 1975, 4 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com

3 Jan 1975, 4 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com

2004 Boston Globe article with a very good summary of the case

16 Dec 2004, 67 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com

16 Dec 2004, 74 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com


Here's a Google Maps view of a walking route today from Vinnin Square Shopping Center to Henry's home. The address 215 Paradise Rd is the Service Dept. Henry may have been taking a short cut that day that led him through the Service Dept property to Suffolk Ave. above, then on to his home. Not sure what that route was, but it probably involved cutting through some yards and across the active railroad tracks. JMO, it doesn't really look like it would save time vs going along the side streets to get home. Henry's mother didn't think he was taking a shortcut, either.

Google Maps

Google street view of the Swampscott Service Dept, where Henry cut across the lot and climbed to the bluff above. That was the "Swampscott view" area where kids hung out. That day, Henry was using it as a shortcut to Suffolk Ave on his way home from the shopping center.

Google Maps

Google street view of end of Suffolk Ave., where Henry and other local kids accessed the area on the hill above the City Service Dept.

Google Maps

One of the articles in the links above from the time of the murder mentions that LE had talked to several young people who had been seen in the area. There were probably quite a few kids wandering around after school, but I wonder if someone did see the killer in the neighborhood near the hill, near Suffolk Ave.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I'm not sure if I've already said this, but I wonder if the killer lived along the path to SV. Otherwise I think someone would notice blood on the killer if they were walking around town after the murder.

I think I'm going to try to get up to that path soon. If I do, I'll report back on how isolated it is and how easy it is to get on and off the path.

I wonder who this killer grew up to be. I wonder if I know them.

I do have some connections to the son of the former police chief and a local baseball star. I'll see if I can get anything from those angles. No promises, though!

 

[Betty P]

I'm not sure if I've already said this, but I wonder if the killer lived along the path to SV. Otherwise I think someone would notice blood on the killer if they were walking around town after the murder.

I think I'm going to try to get up to that path soon. If I do, I'll report back on how isolated it is and how easy it is to get on and off the path.

I wonder who this killer grew up to be. I wonder if I know them.

I do have some connections to the son of the former police chief and a local baseball star. I'll see if I can get anything from those angles. No promises, though!

Good point! The killer would have been bloodied by the attack on Henry. Someone should have seen them with blood on their clothing or witnessed them trying to clean up after they returned home. If it was a fellow high school kid, perhaps both of their parents worked, allowing them to clean up undetected at home.

It was also Dec 16, so it would have been getting dark fairly early, especially on a cloudy, rainy day. It's possible the killer was able to hide out until dark, then sneak home. Should we assume the killer entered and exited the scene from Suffolk Avenue or down the hill via the abandoned rail line?

Also, remember the little boys first saw the shopping bag and Henry's wallet in the woods around 4 pm the day of the murders. Was the killer still in the area, but hiding? At 4 pm, it seems there would have been some light, but the kids didn't see anyone else around. I can't imagine 10 year old boys going into those woods when it was dark. IDK.

Here's a link to the historical weather data for that day at Weather Underground. It's based on the weather reports at Beverly, MA.

Beverly, MA History | Weather Underground

High Temperature: 43
Low Temperature: 32
Precipitation: .5 in.

Sunset: 4:12 pm
Civil Twilight: 4:44 pm
Nautical Twilight (you can still barely see the horizon): 5:20 pm
Astronomical Twilight: 5:54 pm

I'm also back to thinking Henry didn't go there because it was a short cut. It really didn't save much time and the hill and woods would have been somewhat messy and difficult to navigate that day. Maybe he was meeting someone there?

ETA: It would be great if you could visit there and report back. I'm guessing the trail up to the top of the bluff is pretty steep in places. Please take some photos if you can. Seems like such a lovely town. So tragic.

 

[jgfitzge]

Thanks Betty P, I will look at these articles. I really believe this is one of those cases where someone (IMO more than one) person knows what happened.

Again, I bring up the markings on the bat handle. In various reports and when I look at pictures it could be a VI. I am wondering if it as simple as Varsity 1, to keep it from getting mixed in with the JV bats? Just because it says "Little League" on the bat doesn't mean it was exclusively used by the local little league. It could be the high school. The only reason I see marking a bat is to identify as yours. So, maybe VI for Varsity or someone's initials like VL or VI? Vincent ----? for example.

I also say two or more people attacked him. If I was going to a fight alone, my antenna would be up and If I saw someone approaching me with a bat or with another person, I would run..(remember, don't bring a knife to a gun fight..)

Finally, I really believe now is the time to apply some pressure on persons of interest. Most people settled in a comfy lifestyle do not want to be asked questions and being reminded and thinking about a horrible thing they have been keeping bottled up for so long.

 

[Betty P]

Thanks Betty P, I will look at these articles. I really believe this is one of those cases where someone (IMO more than one) person knows what happened.

Again, I bring up the markings on the bat handle. In various reports and when I look at pictures it could be a VI. I am wondering if it as simple as Varsity 1, to keep it from getting mixed in with the JV bats? Just because it says "Little League" on the bat doesn't mean it was exclusively used by the local little league. It could be the high school. The only reason I see marking a bat is to identify as yours. So, maybe VI for Varsity or someone's initials like VL or VI? Vincent ----? for example.

I also say two or more people attacked him. If I was going to a fight alone, my antenna would be up and If I saw someone approaching me with a bat or with another person, I would run..(remember, don't bring a knife to a gun fight..)

Finally, I really believe now is the time to apply some pressure on persons of interest. Most people settled in a comfy lifestyle do not want to be asked questions and being reminded and thinking about a horrible thing they have been keeping bottled up for so long.

All good ideas. I was looking for a larger photo of the end of the bat to show the markings (agree, it looks like a VI). If I can find a larger photo of it, I'll post it. The ones I saw online are pretty small or are photocopies of newsprint, so rather dark.

The possibility of two people being involved sounds interesting. He could have also been caught off guard if someone hit him from behind. He may have turned his back on his killer or they jumped out from a hidden spot. I wonder if he had any defensive wounds to his hands or arms? Obviously, if he went there to meet someone, he knew his killer. It just seems unusual, but not impossible, for kids that age to violently murder a friend or classmate. Who had a bad temper? Who was a bully? Who had a mean streak or held a grudge?

 

[PerhapsIt'sYou]

I guess one could say this is one of my "pet cases" if that is an appropriate term. In some ways it is hard to believe it hasn't been solved. I strongly believe the number of persons who could have possibly done this is very small. In other words, it wasn't a random madman passing through town.

Below is my theory of what happened. It is a theory...no more, no less. Don't ask me to prove it...I cant, it's just theory.

I think Henry was known to loan out money. My understanding is that he had saved up quite a sum. Keep in mind the $37 stolen from his wallet would be worth roughly $188 in today's dollars.

That day at school I think Henry confronted a kid (probably a friend) to whom he had loaned money. The kid replied 'I don't have it with me, but meet me at SV after school and I will give it to you"

THe kid of course doesn't have the money. Maybe he wants to stop henry from asking for repayment...or who knows, maybe Henry said something like "pay me back or else..."

So the young debtor takes a baseball bat with him...not intending to use it, just to scare Henry into backing off.

Henry was known not to back down. He isn't intimidated by the bat. Maybe he even dared his friend to use it. The kid hits him...after that first hit all of his pent up rage comes spilling out. Not all of this rage is directed at Henry. The young debtor likely has a rough life. His home life is a mess. Parents might even abusive. The kid has a lot of anger. That anger is unleashed on Henry.

As a final 'f you', the killer takes Henry's $37, as if to say "not only am I not paying you back, I'm going to take this money too"

I believe the killer still lives locally, if not Swampscott, a nearby town. I doubt he has had any major problems with the law, if any. He likely has struggled with drugs and alcohol abuse as an adult. In order to sleep at night he has likely convinced himself he acted in self defense.

I also believe parents, especially mom (who is probably deceased by now) suspected her son. if nothing else, she spotted blood on his clothes.

Again, this is all a theory. I have no first hand info. I was not alive in 74.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I went to Swampscott View today! I'm sure it looks a little different in the summer, it was very lush. I didn't go all the way into it because honestly I did a crappy parking job and the neighbors were very nosy (that's actually pretty notable IMO). It was a little difficult to navigate the trail. Lots of branches and plants. I could see a large grassy area beyond where i was standing. It reminded me so much of the place my friends and I would hang out when i was a young teenager.

I can't get the pictures to upload right now, but I'll figure out a way.

Anyways, I entered the trail through Suffolk Ave. It's extremely residential (think of the neighborhoods in Hocus Pocus) with lots of people currently outside since it's summer. I pulled over and parked, and immediately a woman on a bicycle rang her bell and waved at me. I went into the trail for just a few minutes. There was more to go but being alone and noticed by neighbors, I didn't want to hang around for too long. I could see what looked like a bench further in. It was surprisingly secluded, especially deeper, but not from noise. It doesn't look like it gets much use anymore. When I left the trail, the woman who waved at me asked me if I had been looking for a lost dog. I said luckily I hadn't lost a dog, I had heard it used to be a popular hangout and was just curious. It seems like the type of neighborhood where people notice anything suspicious, so I'm surprised nobody did for Henry's murder.

Just in case anyone isn't familiar with the nuance, waving at a stranger in your neighborhood here is like a southerner telling someone, "Bless your heart." It seems nice but it actually means I see you, you don't belong here, you're suspicious, you're threatening, i'm watching you, get out.

Let me try to upload the pictures. Apologies in advance, im not a photographer.

I think my next step is going to be looking for info from the library and possibly the high school library or athletic department. I'm also going to try to make contact with an old friend whose dad almost went MLB, I think he grew up in Swampscott and might be the right age. You never know when poking and prodding might shake something loose!