Right here’s the place the Molly Bish case stands 20 years after her physique was discovered

Crime

Frank Sumner Sr. remains to be an individual of curiosity within the case.

Worcester County District Lawyer Joseph Early says his workplace remains to be actively investigating the homicide of Molly Bish. File

Twenty years after 16-year-old Molly Bish’s physique was discovered, Worcester County District Lawyer Joseph Early seems optimistic about fixing her homicide.

“Our State Police Detectives, prosecutors and sufferer witness advocates stay devoted to fixing this case and discovering justice for Molly’s household,” he stated in a press release Wednesday.

The case up to now

Molly went lacking on June 27, 2000, after her mom dropped her off for a lifeguard shift at Comins Pond in her hometown of Warren.

Police carried out an intensive seek for the teenager, however her physique wasn’t discovered till June 9, 2003. Molly’s physique was present in close by Palmer after somebody seen a blue bathing swimsuit within the woods which was much like the one she wore.

At the moment, police decided that she had been kidnapped and killed, however nobody was charged along with her homicide.

The following massive break in Molly’s case didn’t come till 2021 when Early introduced that Francis “Frank” Sumner Sr., who died in 2016 at age 71, was an individual of curiosity in Molly’s homicide.

Frank Sumner Sr. remains to be an individual of curiosity

Early stated Wednesday that Sumner remains to be an individual of curiosity within the case, calling the proof that led his workplace to call him as “persuasive and credible.”

Sumner was a longtime central Massachusetts resident who owned and operated auto restore outlets within the space. He was convicted of aggravated rape and kidnapping in 1982 after he locked a girl he’d employed to scrub an condominium within the condominium. He then choked her, threatened to kill her, and raped her.

Francis “Frank” P. Sumner Sr. remains to be an individual of curiosity within the homicide of Molly Bish. – Worcester County District Lawyer’s Workplace

MassLive reported beforehand that Sumner was thought of a disreputable auto repairman within the space, and was concerned in quite a few civil and prison lawsuits throughout his lifetime.

WBZ-TV reported beforehand that Sumner was dealing with prison expenses when he died, together with failing to register as a intercourse offender, making threats, disorderly conduct, and harassment.

Sumner suits the outline Molly’s mom gave police of a suspicious man driving a white automotive who she noticed close to Comins Pond seaside the day earlier than Molly went lacking.

Sumner additionally bears a resemblance to a sketch police made primarily based on Molly’s mom’s description, and Molly’s household has stated publicly that they’d obtained recommendations on Sumner for years earlier than he was named an individual of curiosity.

On the left, a photograph of Molly Bish homicide suspect Francis P. Sumner Sr. On the fitting, a sketch of Bish’s potential abductor. – Worcester County District Lawyer’s workplace.

Through the years, different males have been related to Molly’s homicide, however solely Sumner has ever been named an individual of curiosity.

What police are doing now

This 12 months, Early stated, police recognized a “important variety of objects of proof” that may very well be examined or retested due to new scientific developments. State Police detectives are within the strategy of assessing proof that may be reanalyzed, he stated.

Early stated his workplace nonetheless often receives recommendations on Molly’s case, calling the tip line “very energetic.” He encourages anybody who might need details about Molly’s case or Sumner to contact his workplace at 508-453-7575 or [email protected]. 

“We’re doing all the pieces we are able to to unravel Molly’s case. We’ve got solved 40-, 30- and 20-year-old instances,” he stated. “…These instances aren’t ‘chilly’ instances, sitting on a shelf someplace accumulating mud.”