WORCESTER, MA—Nearing the anniversary of Molly Bish's disappearance from Comins Pond in Warren on June 27, 2000, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. announced that evidence is headed to the lab for enhanced DNA testing.
Some 24 pieces collected from the crime scenes in the Bish murder will be submitted for testing in September, when upgraded tests become available.
“The science is always getting better,” Early said in a statement. “We feel that the improved testing will help us in our efforts to identify Molly’s killer or killers.”
The improvement in DNA testing could make degraded samples that are now unusable, usable for determining DNA.
Bish was 16, a resident of Warren, and a lifeguard at the pond. Her disappearance set off a massive search. Her remains were found nearly three years later in the woods of Whiskey Hill in nearby Palmer.
Soon after taking office as district attorney, Early formed a cold case squad to look at older cases such as Bish's. After meeting with Molly’s parents, John and Maggie Bish, he changed the name of the unit to the Unresolved Case Squad, said an announcement.
“John Bish had asked me not to call it a cold case squad because he felt it made it seem the cases were on a shelf somewhere collecting dust,” Early said in a press release. “So I changed it. These cases are not forgotten and they are being worked on continuously. We get tips on Molly’s case every week and we track down every lead.”
