MA MA - Karina Holmer, 20, Boston, 21 June 1996

[insatiable]

I have been off this thread for sometime but was a 22 year old female living in Kenmore (literally blocks away) when this happened. As a girl much like Karina doing the club scene, including Zanzibar (though not that night) I frequently walked home the same route she had taken in lieu of a cab... especially if I had to much to drink. I can't speak for her friends but I can think of instances where myself and friends were offered rides home and had been talked out of getting into cars because the driver was drunk or just an acquaintance and there was someone with better judgement that said walking was a better option.

I don't remember police making a big deal about the car which makes me think the driver was quickly ruled out IMO. There was a lot of focus around her route home and residents in the area which frankly scared me more.

I did not go back and watch the videos but this was not a disorganized person having a break. A disorganized killer leaves evidence. This person was brutal and sophisticated. He was quick. This took place in a matter of hours and he left no trail. He (assuming) was no disorganized psychopath whatsoever and is very intelligent. Again IMO but I have so much to say on this and refraining at the moment.

BBM
It was just over 30 hours from the time she was last seen until they found her body.

 

[dotr]

rbbm.
Maybe someone waited and watched for vulnerable young women like Karina to scoop them right out of the club? imo, speculation.
June 24 2019 By Phillip Martin
Remembering Karina Holmer By Name, Not Just By The Crime That Killed Her
Twenty-three years after the remains of a young woman were found near Fenway "Park, the case remains unsolved. It is one in a long line of cases in Boston that have gone cold, spanning decades — there are nearly 1,000 unsolved homicides in the city.

But Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins, who was elected in November, is hoping to change that statistic. She has rededicated resources and staff to solving murders punctuated by multiple question marks. In doing so, Rollins said she is intent on allowing victims — whose names are often forgotten, while their murders are remembered — to reclaim their identities."

"There was a woman passed out at a tall table with her head in her hands, and one of the bartenders asked me to walk her to a cab," he said. "I said, ‘Yes, I'll be back in one second.’ And I went to the back maybe half a minute [later], and she was gone.”

When Holmer went out that evening in June, she was celebrating the Summer Solstice, the biggest holiday in Sweden, and the longest day of the year. But it would become the darkest day of her young life.

Where does the case stand now? Exactly where it was 23 years ago."

 

[dotr]

March 13 2019
Bar owners and police talk nightlife safety following two Boston abductions
"Boston Police officials met with bar owners and club managers to discuss boosting security measures for nightlife in town after two young women were recently abducted, one of whom was murdered, after leaving Boston bars in two separate instances.

“There are predators out there," Boston Police Commission William Gross said after the meeting. "There are hunters out there. We want to show people that we are working together collaboratively."

"According to data compiled by MassLive, Massachusetts has 15 cold cases as far back as 1951, in which 10 women are the victims. Of the 10 cases, four involve abductions.

Perhaps the most shocking and horrific unsolved homicide in recent Boston history is the murder and disposal of a 19-year-old Swedish au pair in 1996.

Last seen dancing at Zanzabar nightclub, Karina Holmer’s mutilated body was found in a Back Bay dumpster. Officials have no idea who killed her, or where the lower portion of her body was taken."

 

[Crazyjster]

BBM
It was just over 30 hours from the time she was last seen until they found her body.

I didn't think it was that long...I thought it was just a matter of hours. I would have to go through and read bust based on my recollection she was seen just after closing time (a little after 2am) and found early in the morning by a homeless person. Maybe 30 hours before she was identified...but more like 3-4 hours before she was found.

 

[yeshax]

I read she was out on Friday, last seen that night and found on Sunday
Half a body in a dumpster

“Holmer was murdered in June 1996. She and a group of friends had been partying at Zanzibar, a popular nightspot near Boston Common that shared an alley with several other clubs. She hung out with a group of other young nannies, who would walk to downtown clubs from the South Boston loft she used on weekends — it was owned by the family she worked for in Dover.

They met at the loft on Friday night and headed out. Holmer was last seen near the corner of Boylston and Tremont, shortly after closing time. Most of her friends apparently left before she did.

Her body was discovered Sunday morning near Fenway Park by a guy looking for bottles and cans. He touched a trash bag, grabbed the bag, realized there was a person inside of it.”

 

[Crimeobsessed12]

Wow. I just came across this case thanks to Crime Junkie. I was a live in nanny so it certainly caught my eye. I began Facebook searching the family and was shocked to see I am already friends with the daughter - and only very recently became friends with her due to our mutual chronic illness (Lyme) which she seems healed and now advocates for. This gave me access to easily finding her mother and father but if you search them you can find them - many asked if they are still together. They are.

A few thoughts: It’s a well-known fact there are tons of instances of fathers fooling around with the nanny. This was one of the first things I thought of when she said “something horrible happened.” I wouldn’t want to be somehow caught writing about having an affair while still living there either... awkward.

She then tells her family a different story, yet the primary reason is still an issue with the family (making her clean a lot - a common complaint amongst nannies). It makes sense to me that she would give her family “the lite version” while still citing an “issue” with the family if the actual issue is still indeed one with the family but much bigger than being told to clean a lot. I hope that makes sense (I’m still sick with Lyme and struggle to explain my thoughts). If I was messing around with a dad (never ever did) and got in trouble, I wouldn’t tell my family but my brain would make up another excuse that involves the family - that just seems like the most logical thought process to me. It’s related and in the same area but the details are changed.


The lower part of the body missing - if she was pregnant wouldn’t any DNA test to determine the father be done on the fetus? There is no way to get that from blood I am assuming? Plus this was 1996.

Removal of makeup on body found- she had already removed her makeup and was ready for bed? Yet neighbors didn’t hear her come into the dads apt he was letting her use...

I’ve lurked on the dads profile and while he seems like a very loving and supportive dad, something in his eyes just really creeps me out. They seem empty. The parents still being together may explain why neither has turned on each other. I’ve heard of relationships ending for reasons other than a crime they committed together and one party outing the other a decade or more later. I do hope I am wrong though..

Oh I meant to add- the family appears quite wealthy. The daughter received treatment in Germany that costs 40k, though I know her school fundraised for her as well. Wealthy well known artists evading the police thanks to their money doesn’t seem that far off to me..

 

[Crimeobsessed12]

Wow it also appears they simply moved on to another blonde Swedish nanny when the daughter was still around 3/4 yo....

 

[insatiable]

I didn't think it was that long...I thought it was just a matter of hours. I would have to go through and read bust based on my recollection she was seen just after closing time (a little after 2am) and found early in the morning by a homeless person. Maybe 30 hours before she was identified...but more like 3-4 hours before she was found.

She went out Friday night June 21st and was last seen when the bar was closing early Saturday A.M. June 22nd. She was not found until Sunday June 23rd. I read that police said she could of been alive for 24 hours or more after she was last seen. I will try to the find article.

 

[MadisonS]

A link to a Swedish news site with a recent video covering the Karina Holmer murder. Most of the video is in Swedish, but there are a few English interviews plus photos of Karina and Boston.

Mordet på svenska Karina Holmer fortfarande olöst efter 20 år

 

[MadisonS]

The lower part of the body missing - if she was pregnant wouldn’t any DNA test to determine the father be done on the fetus? There is no way to get that from blood I am assuming? Plus this was 1996.

Removal of makeup on body found- she had already removed her makeup and was ready for bed? Yet neighbors didn’t hear her come into the dads apt he was letting her use...

You are correct, bloodwork would determine whether or not she was pregnant, but not who the father was. They would need the fetus for that.

I always assumed that it was the killer who was responsible for removing all of her makeup and scrubbing her clean to remove trace evidence. But your assumption that Karina washed it off herself before bed is equally plausible.

 

[Crazyjster]

The husband as a suspect and pregnancy theory was one that was one talked about constantly...however I don't think she was pregnant only because she was out getting drunk at a bar. Not to say that pregnant people don't do that, but I just don't think that she was. That doesn't mean however, she was not having an affair possibly with her employer and its entirely possible she made it home. There is always the possibility there was more than 1 person involved as well.

 

[ravensharlow]

I am new to websleuths ..and I just finished Crime Junkies episode on Karina Holmer and they have WIPED allll the pieces somehow off the internet of all the questionable arts of Susan Nichter. Does anyone happen to know where they can be seen or any screenshots?Looking for Messenger, Carried Across, Whisper, Getting what you want? Any help would be great!

 

[DoubleA]

I am new to websleuths ..and I just finished Crime Junkies episode on Karina Holmer and they have WIPED allll the pieces somehow off the internet of all the questionable arts of Susan Nichter. Does anyone happen to know where they can be seen or any screenshots?Looking for Messenger, Carried Across, Whisper, Getting what you want? Any help would be great!

I've seen the art but didn't screenshot it. Overwhelming inclusion of legs without torsos.

 

[Sophiesleuths]

That John Zewizz video that somebody posted really rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't think much of him as a suspect until I saw that. 3 things in particular stood out:

1. His reluctance to say her name. I was keeping up with a recent case where a guy had shot an ex girlfriend. In his police interrogation video he never once mentioned her by name, he just kept calling her "the girl" and "the girl that died/passed away", despite having dated her for literally years. In that instance, he was seemingly trying to distance himself from the victim as much as possible. It could be nothing but he definitely knows her name, regardless or whether he did the crime or not, he must have been bombarded with questions about her for years in both police interviews and in his personal life. It seems odd that Zewizz wouldn't refer to her by name, and just as "the nanny".
2. Giving false facts. Really? she was missing her arms and head as well as her legs? Again, i know the facts about the case well because i'm interested in it, but i'm almost positive that if you were a person of interest in a crime and were present in the community when it happened, be it from just seeing it on the news or the shock of such a crime happening in your area, surely you would remember some of the most basic information about it, and i feel like the severed spine and missing legs are common knowledge.
3. The deflection of blame. I damn near gasped when he said that the nanny's employer was guilty. Not even a "oh its widely believed that her employer was the suspect" but saying he's guilty as if its a fully fledged fact. Yeah, a lot of people think the host families behaviour particularly the Dads is suspicious as sin, but to outright lie and relay inaccurate info that throws Rapp under the bus. Shady IMO.

Zewizz prefaces this "What was this "Nani Murder" thing?" by saying he's going to explain it so that "people understand and don't misconstrue what it was" but then proceeds to give incorrect facts. Surely if you didn't wanna misconstrue it you'd brush up on your familiarity real quick so you didn't end up giving false info (twice)?

(Someone posted it on here before but ill link it to save scrolling:

and the Karina bit starts at 7:14)

 

[dotr]

That John Zewizz video that somebody posted really rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't think much of him as a suspect until I saw that. 3 things in particular stood out:

1. His reluctance to say her name. I was keeping up with a recent case where a guy had shot an ex girlfriend. In his police interrogation video he never once mentioned her by name, he just kept calling her "the girl" and "the girl that died/passed away", despite having dated her for literally years. In that instance, he was seemingly trying to distance himself from the victim as much as possible. It could be nothing but he definitely knows her name, regardless or whether he did the crime or not, he must have been bombarded with questions about her for years in both police interviews and in his personal life. It seems odd that Zewizz wouldn't refer to her by name, and just as "the nanny".
2. Giving false facts. Really? she was missing her arms and head as well as her legs? Again, i know the facts about the case well because i'm interested in it, but i'm almost positive that if you were a person of interest in a crime and were present in the community when it happened, be it from just seeing it on the news or the shock of such a crime happening in your area, surely you would remember some of the most basic information about it, and i feel like the severed spine and missing legs are common knowledge.
3. The deflection of blame. I damn near gasped when he said that the nanny's employer was guilty. Not even a "oh its widely believed that her employer was the suspect" but saying he's guilty as if its a fully fledged fact. Yeah, a lot of people think the host families behaviour particularly the Dads is suspicious as sin, but to outright lie and relay inaccurate info that throws Rapp under the bus. Shady IMO.

Zewizz prefaces this "What was this "Nani Murder" thing?" by saying he's going to explain it so that "people understand and don't misconstrue what it was" but then proceeds to give incorrect facts. Surely if you didn't wanna misconstrue it you'd brush up on your familiarity real quick so you didn't end up giving false info (twice)?

(Someone posted it on here before but ill link it to save scrolling:

and the Karina bit starts at 7:14)

Welcome to Ws Sophiesleuths thanks for the interesting perspective!

 

[Sophiesleuths]

Welcome to Ws Sophiesleuths thanks for the interesting perspective!

Thanks! I joined purely to comment on this case as it’s perplexed me for years. The fact that it remains unsolved is truly chilling.

 

[kozyhelen]

Hi- I’m just wondering if anyone has a copy (or has attempted to retrieve A copy) of the police report for this case? If so, would you be willing to share it? Thanks.

 

[UnderWhelmed405]

Bumping after listening to recent Morbid Podcast

 

[Ratqueen]

Me too!! Ok so all these paintings have been just wiped off the internet?! how suspish right? Personally with the Boston police being so corrupt at the time I dont think we will ever have answers.
I personally think it was the husband and he was trying to/ or having relations with Karina as was just burning evidence of that not her body. That or the guy with the superman shirt. Like why drive back and forth so far?? Could have been the cop too because the corruption and the other cops were protecting him.

What I want to see are these paintings tho!

my understanding is this is a cold case and they are no longer even investigating.

Bumping after listening to recent Morbid Podcast

 

[insatiable]

Has anyone ever seen any of the friends she was with that night do any interviews? 24 years and none have spoken to the press? The only thing I recall seeing about any friend was reported in an article by Associated Press that at the end of the night a male friend she was there with spoke to her in a gray Mitsubishi outside of the club but two men in the car with her basically told him to get lost. Why if this friend seen these men and car was there never a description of the men or car put out by police? Did they not think what the friend was saying was credible? Why? Were any of the friends she went with looked at as suspects?