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

[Betty P]

An interesting theory for sure. I'm not seeing the KM initials on the bat though.

It helps if you can find a darker version of the photo that shows more contrast.

Here's the one I posted previously

https://www.websleuths.com/forums/attachments/img-jpg.193492/

Depending on how you rotate the image, you'll see a K and an M. In this photo, you see a "K" tilted 90 degrees. Look again and you'll see an upright "M". Ignore the number 1, as it's the maker's stamp. The carving was somewhat sloppy, but it was likely done by a kid.

 

[PerhapsIt'sYou]

I can definitely see Km on the bat. but I also see the Roman numeral Vl

By the way, do you all believe the parents of the culprit recognized the carving on the bat?

 

[UnlicensedPI]

It helps if you can find a darker version of the photo that shows more contrast.

Here's the one I posted previously

https://www.websleuths.com/forums/attachments/img-jpg.193492/

Depending on how you rotate the image, you'll see a K and an M. In this photo, you see a "K" tilted 90 degrees. Look again and you'll see an upright "M". Ignore the number 1, as it's the maker's stamp. The carving was somewhat sloppy, but it was likely done by a kid.

I meant I can see what others are seeing but IMO it looks more like a VI with a scrape next to it. I'm not seeing any clearly defined M and I don't think there would be a clear carved line underneath the initials. I think the carvings are very clearly carvings and they're uniform (same width and depth of the lines). What people are seeing as an M doesn't match that.

 

[Betty P]

I meant I can see what others are seeing but IMO it looks more like a VI with a scrape next to it. I'm not seeing any clearly defined M and I don't think there would be a clear carved line underneath the initials. I think the carvings are very clearly carvings and they're uniform (same width and depth of the lines). What people are seeing as an M doesn't match that.

Well, that's ok. Discussing different points of view is always helpful.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

Well, that's ok. Discussing different points of view is always helpful.

And it's not to say that KM did or didn't commit murder or even own the bat! It could still be initials, too, instead of roman numerals. IV/VI as initials?

The bat was the same type used by the high school baseball team (according to the blog). I wonder if any of the staff members would have brought the bats home in the off season. Could it be a relative of a staff member?

 

[spidersleuth]

And it's not to say that KM did or didn't commit murder or even own the bat! It could still be initials, too, instead of roman numerals. IV/VI as initials?

The bat was the same type used by the high school baseball team (according to the blog). I wonder if any of the staff members would have brought the bats home in the off season. Could it be a relative of a staff member?

That’s a good theory. Also, the way the old high school is set up is that the gym is in the basement next to the cafeteria. It would have been easy for a student with maybe good rapport with the staff to take a baseball bat out of the gym, walk around the corner and then out the back door that leads to a softball field. beyond the field is woods that lead to tedesco (golf course) and then he would be walking through the woods and the golf course for most of his trek up to Sv. Meaning not many people would have seen him with the bat if the perp was crossing through there.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

That’s a good theory. Also, the way the old high school is set up is that the gym is in the basement next to the cafeteria. It would have been easy for a student with maybe good rapport with the staff to take a baseball bat out of the gym, walk around the corner and then out the back door that leads to a softball field. beyond the field is woods that lead to tedesco (golf course) and then he would be walking through the woods and the golf course for most of his trek up to Sv. Meaning not many people would have seen him with the bat if the perp was crossing through there.

That could explain why no one could figure out where the bat came from.

 

[spidersleuth]

That could explain why no one could figure out where the bat came from.

Exactly. Walking out that back door with some gym equipment would be easy.
I snuck out that door quite a few times in my day!!!

 

[PerhapsIt'sYou]

I didn't notice this...someone pointed it out to me, it kind of looks like a sword is carved in that image on the bat handle.

Trying to decipher what exactly is carved into that bat is like an inkblot test.

 

[jgfitzge]

I’m catching up reading all of the comments in the last few pages. What bothers me about this case is when I step back and look at this this case it should be solved and I’ll repeat, this case should be solved. So the next few things I will state may not sit well with some people but here goes, if this was my son or brother I would be the biggest PIA to law-enforcement and the media. Maybe it’s the MassHo—- in me but I would be calling and going to the media constantly saying look into this unsolved case and every time I talk to them I will also mention that our current governor lives in this town. Constant pressure and keeping the spotlight on the Bedard case and always mentioning our current governor lives in the same town.

Further, it would come to a point in one’s life where you just don’t care. As a family member I would be making a stink whether it’s rumor or whatever I would be talking and to hell with it if you want to sue me fine I don’t care keep in mind it works both ways. So if you’re going to sue me for libel, go ahead, I have no assets. But keep this in mind if you sue, you step into the spotlight and you will get questioned. I don’t think you want that. In other words I would not be passive in the least.

 

[PerhapsIt'sYou]

Can anyone confirm or deny if KM ever attended swampscott high? It appears he is a graduate of Salem high

 

[Tommy2step]

I love these last comments. Someone in the town knows. Re-interview...apply pressure...no one is coming forward because of years of guilt and holding on to it. I do have to question for hard the investigation was/has been pushed. When did the state police actually get involved? The Chronicle segment said the bat was sent out for testing....in 2004. So, did anything come of it? Of course, LE will say this "is an active and open investigation an therefore we cannot comment on it as such. No pun intended, but that is a"cop out". You're going to say that a 45 year old case is active? Please...this has always smelled like a small town cover-up that's been reinforced over time by the state police. This case needs to be profiled on a show like Breaking Homicide...put some cameras on people, make people uncomfortable, see who slams a door in someone's face, who refuses to talk...see who flips out when the heat gets turned up. It's great that the former police chief was someone everybody loved...but I'd rather have a chief whose a who actually made some headway here.

 

[spidersleuth]

Can anyone confirm or deny if KM ever attended swampscott high? It appears he is a graduate of Salem high

I am going to try and confirm this.

 

[spidersleuth]

I love these last comments. Someone in the town knows. Re-interview...apply pressure...no one is coming forward because of years of guilt and holding on to it. I do have to question for hard the investigation was/has been pushed. When did the state police actually get involved? The Chronicle segment said the bat was sent out for testing....in 2004. So, did anything come of it? Of course, LE will say this "is an active and open investigation an therefore we cannot comment on it as such. No pun intended, but that is a"cop out". You're going to say that a 45 year old case is active? Please...this has always smelled like a small town cover-up that's been reinforced over time by the state police. This case needs to be profiled on a show like Breaking Homicide...put some cameras on people, make people uncomfortable, see who slams a door in someone's face, who refuses to talk...see who flips out when the heat gets turned up. It's great that the former police chief was someone everybody loved...but I'd rather have a chief whose a who actually made some headway here.

I hope to do that. While the chief was loved, i can’t say the same for ALL of his sons and nephews.... and They still run the town.....

 

[Tommy2step]

Can anyone confirm or deny if KM ever attended swampscott high? It appears he is a graduate of Salem high

I haven't lived in mass in quite a while...but...these are area next to each other. Kids know kids from the next 2 or 3 towns over. Friends, rivals, whoever.

 

[PerhapsIt'sYou]

I haven't lived in mass in quite a while...but...these are area next to each other. Kids know kids from the next 2 or 3 towns over. Friends, rivals, whoever.

True. I'm just trying to find something connecting KM to henry. Right now there is nothing.

 

[Tommy2step]

I hear ya Perhaps. I had read a post on another site that Henry might have been involved with betting. Probably nothing big time but who knows? Maybe somebody was owed a big chunk of change and, in the killer's mind, an example had to be made.

 

[jgfitzge]

I hear ya Perhaps. I had read a post on another site that Henry might have been involved with betting. Probably nothing big time but who knows? Maybe somebody was owed a big chunk of change and, in the killer's mind, an example had to be made.

I may have read the same thing. I thought I read where Henry and other kids from the high school perhaps used to play cards in around SV.

 

[PerhapsIt'sYou]

From everything Ive read, Henry had a pretty good sum saved up. So, he probably had enough to pay any debt from gambling. (unless he just refused to pay)

I also read that something like $37 was taken off him at the murder scene. That is about $192 in today's dollars. A good amount for a 15 year old to be carrying around.

 

[rob525]

I haven't read all of the posts yet so forgive me if this has been asked. I wonder how many people Henry told about the $900 that he had saved up? I also keep thinking about how rumors spread and stories change with each telling. I wonder if the attacker (s) had heard a rumor that Henry was prone to carry the large sum of money on his person and upon finding only $37.00 in his wallet went into a rage. Maybe saw him shopping for Christmas and assumed that he had all of that money on him?