Prosecutor: Eerie Tips Constants In Cases Of Missing CT Girls

VERNON, CT — On a whim Tuesday night, State's Attorney Matthew Gedansky hung posters describing three infamous cold cases involving missing Tolland County girls at a booth during the annual National Night out celebration just down the road from Rockville Superior Court.

The veteran prosecutor offered court advice to many visitors but also fielded questions and listened to comments about the cases, two of which had anniversaries last week. It was all a stark reminder that the investigations are active and still very much on the minds of north-central Connecticut residents.

Then, he came to work Wednesday morning and had a voicemail. It was yet another eerie tip.

"And it followed a common theme," Gedanski said. "The message said, 'I was sexually assaulted in the 1970s,' and the caller named a name ..."

I have to wonder if the booth (Tuesday) night had something to do with triggering the memory.

Gedansky said he added it to the long list of notes on suggested culprits in the three cases.

"It went on the entire time at the booth," he said. "From older people saying they remembered the cases to young people asking if the girls were still missing. These are still active cases with tips from residents coming in all the time."

Two of the cases has anniversaries late last month:

• On the afternoon of July 26, 1973, 7-year-old Janice Pockett left her Tolland home on a bicycle. She was last seen riding in the area of Anthony Road and Rhodes Road, where the Cross Farm atheltic fields are today. Her bicycle was found on the dirt portion of Rhodes Road, but there was no sign of her.
• Debra Spickler was in Vernon's Henry Park, waiting for a friend, in broad daylight, on July 24, 1968 when she was last seen. She was 13 at the time.

And the third:

• Lisa White was 13 when she was last seen on Prospect Street in the Rockville Section of Vernon on Nov. 1, 1974. She was walking along the road, police said.

The Tolland County Cold Case Squad is a combination of local, state and federal officers and can be reached at 860-870-3228. Vernon police can be reached at 860-872-9126. They are the two primary outlets for tips.

Many of the tips involve different names from towns like Vernon, Tolland and Ellington, Gedansky said.

"Every tip gets followed up on. They are all intriguing and all of the tips are valuable," he said. "And they are from all all three."

But for so long? And how does a prosecutor stay with it for years?

"It's very easy to stay with," Gedansky said. "It's so compelling and you can't stop thinking of the families. They want closure."

Gedansky then paused.

" Wish we had more resources," he said. "For a while, we had a dedicated staff person who could compile tips (on cold cases) and follow leads, but we lost that position in a budget crunch. The police detectives have been very dedicated but I wish we can get that position back."

Gedansky was asked if he had any hope for that to happen.

"We might be able to get it back," he said. "It's a strong possibility. It's not an expensive position and it keeps the process moving forward."

He said one reason for a recent influx of sexual assault claims is that peopkle are more confident in reporting them in 2019.

"A lot of those crimes just weren't talked about in the 1970s," he said. "Sexual assaults are probably the most underereportred crimes, especially ones that involve a minor. There is more awareness now."

He started up again.

"Still …"

And he briefly stopped. Gedansky then revisited the banners at the booth on Tuesday.

"What differentiates these three is that the girls have not been found," he said. "Those banners were conversation-starters of just about everyone who came to the table. They remember when it happened — one of them or all three. Young people are sad to learn about the cases."