MELISSA TREMBLAY: Man arrested in 1988 killing of 11-year-old girl from Salem, New Hampshire

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You may remember this case:

www.foxnews.com

Former Massachusetts corrections officer arrested for 1988 slaying of 11-year-old girl

A 74-year-old man was arrested this week for the 1988 murder of an 11-year-old girl in Massachusetts.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com

Melissa Ann Tremblay disappeared in Lawrence, Massachusetts, at the age of 11 on a Sunday evening in 1988 and was found the next day after being stabbed to death and hit by a train.

More than three decades later, her alleged killer was arrested in Alabama and will be returned to Massachusetts to face justice. Marvin McClendon, Jr., a 74-year-old retired Massachusetts Department of Corrections officer, was taken into custody by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and will be arraigned in an Alabama court later this week.

Tremblay went with her mother to LaSalle Social Club in Lawrence on September 11, 1988.

"While her mother and mother’s boyfriend remained inside the club, Melissa played in the adjacent neighborhoods and was last seen by a railroad employee and pizza delivery driver during the late afternoon hours," Blodgett said.

Tremblay's mother and her mother's boyfriend searched the area before reporting her missing to police that evening around 9:00 p.m.

Law enforcement located her body in a railway yard a couple of blocks from the social club the next day and an autopsy determined that she had been stabbed to death.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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www.wcvb.com

Murder trial begins for former corrections officer charged in 1988 death of 11-year-old girl

Marvin McClendon, 74, was charged with first-degree murder in the 1988 stabbing death of Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire. Her body was found at the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard on Sept. 12, 1988.
www.wcvb.com www.wcvb.com

Updated: 5:53 AM EST Dec 7, 2023
Jamy Pombo Sesselman
Senior Digital Editor/Producer, WCVB.com

SALEM, Mass. —
A trial is set to begin Thursday for a man accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in Lawrence, Massachusetts, three decades ago.

Marvin McClendon, 74, was charged with first-degree murder in the 1988 stabbing death of Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire. Her body was found at the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard on Sept. 12, 1988.

McClendon, of Alabama, was arrested in April 2022 in connection with the cold case. Investigators said he has long been a "person of interest" in the girl's murder.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence led officials to a group of people related to the defendant. Court documents show investigators interviewed several people with the same surname last year.

The sixth grader had been with her mother at the LaSalle Social Club in Lawrence, a block from the rail yard. She wandered out and was never seen alive again.

McClendon was working in carpentry at the time of the girl's death. Officials said he worked for the Department of Corrections off and on between 1970 and 2002 before retiring and leaving Massachusetts.

Opening statements are set for Thursday in Essex Superior Court.
 
Summer_Breeze said:
www.wcvb.com

Murder trial begins for former corrections officer charged in 1988 death of 11-year-old girl

Marvin McClendon, 74, was charged with first-degree murder in the 1988 stabbing death of Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire. Her body was found at the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard on Sept. 12, 1988.
www.wcvb.com www.wcvb.com

Updated: 5:53 AM EST Dec 7, 2023
Jamy Pombo Sesselman
Senior Digital Editor/Producer, WCVB.com

SALEM, Mass. —
A trial is set to begin Thursday for a man accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in Lawrence, Massachusetts, three decades ago.

Marvin McClendon, 74, was charged with first-degree murder in the 1988 stabbing death of Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire. Her body was found at the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard on Sept. 12, 1988.

McClendon, of Alabama, was arrested in April 2022 in connection with the cold case. Investigators said he has long been a "person of interest" in the girl's murder.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence led officials to a group of people related to the defendant. Court documents show investigators interviewed several people with the same surname last year.

The sixth grader had been with her mother at the LaSalle Social Club in Lawrence, a block from the rail yard. She wandered out and was never seen alive again.

McClendon was working in carpentry at the time of the girl's death. Officials said he worked for the Department of Corrections off and on between 1970 and 2002 before retiring and leaving Massachusetts.

Opening statements are set for Thursday in Essex Superior Court.
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Praying this child gets justice. I don't see a lot to worry about in this one even though an old case. The sad thing is the man was free most of his life. Give him his last years behind bars with a full on life sentence to ensure it. These days I mean to HOPEFULLY ensure it.

Clearly there's no guilty conscience or a need of relief from that guilt of decades and wanting to come clean after all of these years since he is going to trial. Well I guess he will get his day/s in court, the victims never get theirs.
 

Thursday, December 21, 2023
SALEM, Mass. — Deliberations in Marvin “Skip” McClendon’s first-degree murder trial are expected to resume Thursday in Salem Superior Court.

Jurors have deliberated for about eight hours so far.

McClendon is charged with killing Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, of Salem, N.H. on Sept. 11, 1988 in Lawrence — a case that went cold for more than three decades.

Formerly of Massachusetts, McClendon was charged with Tremblay’s murder on April 27, 2022. He was arrested in Bremen, Alabama, where he most recently lived.

Tremblay was stabbed, beaten and killed in Lawrence near the LaSalle Social Club on Andover Street.

She was known to play in the adjacent neighborhoods while her mother and her mother’s boyfriend frequented the social club. She was last seen alive by a railroad employee and a pizza delivery driver, authorities said.

Tremblay’s mother has since died. However, the girl does have surviving relatives and childhood friends living in the area.

Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick said DNA evidence links McClendon to the girl’s murder. Witnesses called by the prosecution also said it appeared the girl’s throat was stabbed from behind by a left-handed assailant.

McClendon is left-handed, according to relatives.

But defense attorney Henry Fasoldt said the entire criminal case is “based on assumptions,” including leaps made with the DNA, and that McClendon had “absolutely no reason” to kill Tremblay.

After more than a week of testimony from detectives, crime lab workers, relatives and others, the prosecution rested its case last Friday.

Fasoldt on Monday called three defense witnesses, all doctors with backgrounds in DNA or forensics.

If convicted for first-degree murder, McClendon faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.
 
Summer_Breeze said:

Thursday, December 21, 2023
SALEM, Mass. — Deliberations in Marvin “Skip” McClendon’s first-degree murder trial are expected to resume Thursday in Salem Superior Court.

Jurors have deliberated for about eight hours so far.

McClendon is charged with killing Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, of Salem, N.H. on Sept. 11, 1988 in Lawrence — a case that went cold for more than three decades.

Formerly of Massachusetts, McClendon was charged with Tremblay’s murder on April 27, 2022. He was arrested in Bremen, Alabama, where he most recently lived.

Tremblay was stabbed, beaten and killed in Lawrence near the LaSalle Social Club on Andover Street.

She was known to play in the adjacent neighborhoods while her mother and her mother’s boyfriend frequented the social club. She was last seen alive by a railroad employee and a pizza delivery driver, authorities said.

Tremblay’s mother has since died. However, the girl does have surviving relatives and childhood friends living in the area.

Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick said DNA evidence links McClendon to the girl’s murder. Witnesses called by the prosecution also said it appeared the girl’s throat was stabbed from behind by a left-handed assailant.

McClendon is left-handed, according to relatives.

But defense attorney Henry Fasoldt said the entire criminal case is “based on assumptions,” including leaps made with the DNA, and that McClendon had “absolutely no reason” to kill Tremblay.

After more than a week of testimony from detectives, crime lab workers, relatives and others, the prosecution rested its case last Friday.

Fasoldt on Monday called three defense witnesses, all doctors with backgrounds in DNA or forensics.

If convicted for first-degree murder, McClendon faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.
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Come on jury, this should take about three to four hours and you are way past. Not all cases have DNA and you have it.

Don't tell me you have one or more hold outs. I always worry when it is a young kid or an old man, etc. They can't look at it like that, like sorry for some elderly man or can't picture it. He wasn't old then.

This one shouldn't take two days or eight plus hours.

Hopefully they come back with guilty today.
 
Summer_Breeze said:

Thursday, December 21, 2023
SALEM, Mass. — Deliberations in Marvin “Skip” McClendon’s first-degree murder trial are expected to resume Thursday in Salem Superior Court.

Jurors have deliberated for about eight hours so far.

McClendon is charged with killing Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, of Salem, N.H. on Sept. 11, 1988 in Lawrence — a case that went cold for more than three decades.

Formerly of Massachusetts, McClendon was charged with Tremblay’s murder on April 27, 2022. He was arrested in Bremen, Alabama, where he most recently lived.

Tremblay was stabbed, beaten and killed in Lawrence near the LaSalle Social Club on Andover Street.

She was known to play in the adjacent neighborhoods while her mother and her mother’s boyfriend frequented the social club. She was last seen alive by a railroad employee and a pizza delivery driver, authorities said.

Tremblay’s mother has since died. However, the girl does have surviving relatives and childhood friends living in the area.

Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick said DNA evidence links McClendon to the girl’s murder. Witnesses called by the prosecution also said it appeared the girl’s throat was stabbed from behind by a left-handed assailant.

McClendon is left-handed, according to relatives.

But defense attorney Henry Fasoldt said the entire criminal case is “based on assumptions,” including leaps made with the DNA, and that McClendon had “absolutely no reason” to kill Tremblay.

After more than a week of testimony from detectives, crime lab workers, relatives and others, the prosecution rested its case last Friday.

Fasoldt on Monday called three defense witnesses, all doctors with backgrounds in DNA or forensics.

If convicted for first-degree murder, McClendon faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.
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Who does have a reason to kill a child?
 
Cousin Dupree said:
Who does have a reason to kill a child?
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True. His atty. acts like no motive. There does't need to be one and there's never good reason. Maybe he just wanted to.

Maybe she set him off somehow. Maybe her parent/s did. Maybe he didn't like that she was there. On and on.

If you pay attention in most cases, I always have faith in the juries almost without fail. This though is a long time imo for this decision and I'm sure again that looking at an old man probably makes it harder to picture. I'm sure defense has him dressed right and all sympathetic. Cane or wheel chair this case? Etc.

I'm praying they come back today and just wanted to take their time.
 
Summer_Breeze said:
www.wcvb.com

Murder trial begins for former corrections officer charged in 1988 death of 11-year-old girl

Marvin McClendon, 74, was charged with first-degree murder in the 1988 stabbing death of Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire. Her body was found at the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard on Sept. 12, 1988.
www.wcvb.com www.wcvb.com

Updated: 5:53 AM EST Dec 7, 2023
Jamy Pombo Sesselman
Senior Digital Editor/Producer, WCVB.com

SALEM, Mass. —
A trial is set to begin Thursday for a man accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in Lawrence, Massachusetts, three decades ago.

Marvin McClendon, 74, was charged with first-degree murder in the 1988 stabbing death of Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire. Her body was found at the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard on Sept. 12, 1988.

McClendon, of Alabama, was arrested in April 2022 in connection with the cold case. Investigators said he has long been a "person of interest" in the girl's murder.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence led officials to a group of people related to the defendant. Court documents show investigators interviewed several people with the same surname last year.

The sixth grader had been with her mother at the LaSalle Social Club in Lawrence, a block from the rail yard. She wandered out and was never seen alive again.

McClendon was working in carpentry at the time of the girl's death. Officials said he worked for the Department of Corrections off and on between 1970 and 2002 before retiring and leaving Massachusetts.

Opening statements are set for Thursday in Essex Superior Court.
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I hope they look past his current age, and think about his age when he committed this absolutely horrific crime, And how long he was free.
 
Mel70 said:
I hope they look past his current age, and think about his age when he committed this absolutely horrific crime, And how long he was free.
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I do too. Did they come back with a verdict yesterday do you know? If not, then it is time to worry. This one shouldn't take that long unless there is a hold out.
 
Mel70 said:
IDK. I was just answering who does have a motive to kill children. But he did have to have a motive of some kind. Even if it's because he felt like it.
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I agree. I like to know the motive, who doesn't, but he may have been angered, drunk and angered or just felt like it as you say. I think it also COULD have been a pedophile's intent but she fought back, ran or he messed up or something on that order. It is the most common intent of child murderers who aren't family members after all.
 
abcnews.go.com

Jury deadlocks in trial of Alabama man accused of 1988 killing of 11-year-old Massachusetts girl

The trial of a 76-year-old Alabama man accused of the 1988 killing of an 11-year-old girl in Massachusetts has ended with a judge declaring a mistrial
abcnews.go.com abcnews.go.com

ByThe Associated Press
December 27, 2023, 7:04 PM

LAWRENCE, Mass. -- The trial of a 76-year-old Alabama man accused of the 1988 killing of an 11-year-old girl in Massachusetts ended Wednesday with a judge declaring a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury.

Marvin C. McClendon Jr. had pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in connection with the death of Melissa Ann Tremblay.

McClendon was arrested last year, decades after Tremblay disappeared. McClendon was linked to the killing through DNA evidence, according to the prosecutor.

McClendon’s lawyer Henry Fasoldt said his client appreciated the jury being “deliberate and thoughtful” and looks forward to trying the case again.

“Mr. McClendon maintains his innocence and I believe he’s innocent,” Fasoldt said.

A spokesperson for the Essex County District Attorney's office said they plan to retry McClendon.

No new trial date has been set.
 
I can't say I am surprised one knowing the jury went past a day.

I am however surprised at the failure of at least one juror.

I'd sure like to know what the breakdown was. Since this trial is over, I see no reason that info can't be given. Too bad this one was hardly covered by news and was not televised as I'd sure like to see what it is they see when looking at him and how it was tried and why anyone would fail to find him guilty, the case put on, etc.

He is in jail isn't he or am I wrong on that? If he is, I'd expect defense to try to get him released next. He was not exonerated in any fashion but I'd still bet that will be tried.

I'm extremely disappointed for Melissa. She deserves justice.

News needs to get on this and talk to the jurors and get the details.

Hopefully it was no more than one juror. If it was then I'd say either there's a problem with the case or people are now doubting DNA evidence which is a scary thought.

This isn't a win for him or the defense. I'm sure they consider it one since he was not convicted but they did not convince all jurors he is innocent and they likely only had one holdout which is usually the case. And they never will get an acquittal imo.

I'd bet it was someone who just can't bring themselves to put an older man away who she or he feels is not a danger to anyone today and excuses it that way. It could be either but my guess is it is a woman. Of course I'm just totally speculating.

Again, news needs to get some details on this. The jurors I would think have been released from duty and can talk. Even thought this will be tried again, I doubt they are prohibited as their service is over.

It's just going to take a bit longer Melissa. Your justice will come.
 
www.eagletribune.com

Family of Melissa Tremblay, cold case murder victim, releases statement after mistrial

LAWRENCE — The following is a statement released Friday morning by family members of Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, who was killed in Lawrence on Sept. 11, 1988.
www.eagletribune.com www.eagletribune.com

LAWRENCE — The following is a statement released Friday morning by family members of Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, who was killed in Lawrence on Sept. 11, 1988.

The Salem, New Hampshire, girl was found stabbed, beaten and killed in a Lawrence railroad yard.

Marvin “Skip” McClendon, 76, of Bremen, Alabama, was charged with Tremblay’s murder more than three decades after Tremblay was murder.


On Wednesday, after McClendon’s lengthy trial and 29 hours of deliberation in Salem Superior Court, a jury said they were deadlocked. Judge Jeffrey Karp declared a mistrial and now prosecutors plan to retry McClendon in the future.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office released the following statement from Tremblay’s family on Friday morning:

“As Missy’s family we feel it is important to address the media now that the trial has ended. While we would have preferred a guilty verdict we thank God that it wasn’t not guilty and that this isn’t the end. The last month has been a very long one and we would like to thank all those that have been there to support us. It truly has taken a village to get us through.

The daily support we have received from the Essex County District Attorney’s office, the previous detectives like Detective Murphy and Trooper Kelleher and the current detective on Missy’s case Lt Sherber has truly been what has helped us through this trial. They were there every step of the way and sat with us and made sure we were OK. It was very hard hearing and seeing some of the information revealed at trial but they were always there with a hug, a kind word and often a box of tissues when needed. We consider them all family and know they will continue to do their best to get justice for Missy.

Also during the trial we had the privilege of meeting Nicole Lydic and the Quinto family, Stephen, Lisa and Jessica. Jessica and her brother Stephen were childhood friends of Missy’s as was Nicole. The day of closing arguments having them along with all the police officers, Troopers and staff from the district attorney’s office all sitting in that courtroom was like they all had their arms around us comforting us.

Our friends and families support and prayers have also been a big help. Uprooting our lives to come back for the trial involved a lot of moving parts and without everyone’s love and support we might not have all been able to attend court.

Someone asked why retrial is so important and honestly it is because justice needs to be served! He has had 35 years that he has gone unpunished, walking free for 33 of those years. He has lived his life with his family, including his children and step children but yet my aunt spent the rest of her life without her child and our family has been missing a part of us for 35 years. Missy would be 46 years old and probably have a family of her own if he hadn’t taken her life. I don’t know what possesses someone to do what he did to Missy. Did she interrupt something he was doing and she became a threat to his life and his chance to go back to the Dept. of Corrections or did he just prey on an innocent young girl? I guess we will never know why and that will always haunt us. At least we know who is responsible for her death. We might have got a mistrial but in our hearts we know the right man was on trial and we look forward to seeing him finally punished.

We would also like to thank the jurors. We know at least some of them believed he was guilty and the fact they fought so hard, deliberating through Christmas means so much to us.”
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Summer_Breeze said:
www.eagletribune.com

Family of Melissa Tremblay, cold case murder victim, releases statement after mistrial

LAWRENCE — The following is a statement released Friday morning by family members of Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, who was killed in Lawrence on Sept. 11, 1988.
www.eagletribune.com www.eagletribune.com

LAWRENCE — The following is a statement released Friday morning by family members of Melissa Ann Tremblay, 11, who was killed in Lawrence on Sept. 11, 1988.

The Salem, New Hampshire, girl was found stabbed, beaten and killed in a Lawrence railroad yard.

Marvin “Skip” McClendon, 76, of Bremen, Alabama, was charged with Tremblay’s murder more than three decades after Tremblay was murder.


On Wednesday, after McClendon’s lengthy trial and 29 hours of deliberation in Salem Superior Court, a jury said they were deadlocked. Judge Jeffrey Karp declared a mistrial and now prosecutors plan to retry McClendon in the future.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office released the following statement from Tremblay’s family on Friday morning:
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next time it's a win. I hope the juror/s that couldn't find guilt read this and more since they won't be up next, they already served. I hope they search heir heart and soul for their decision, lack of logic and common sense.

the family puts it well, it is hard and does uproot for all to attend. the victim advocate and detectives and the support throughout and at tiral is very needed and it is a rare trial where all family members live in the same area much less state if they want to be there.

it was NOT an acquittal and this man willl NEVER get an acquittal so let him know that and face it. they WILL though get a guilty verdict.

i'd like to know that he is still in jail and will remain there?

It is sad that they will never know the reason or motive. They say as much. We wonder too.

Let's get on with a retrial and see justice prevail.

And to the juror/s out there that could not vote guilty, we would all like to hear from you as to what your hang up was. My guess is it was surface stuff. An old man. This was long ago. Since then he had a family, lived a life and had no more wrongdoing? Doesn't matter. I don't even know those things to be true but assuming they are, it does not matter and is not for consideration. The facts and evidence are.

There is DNA. He was in the area, at that site in that year. We didn't get to see trial but know that much. He was a known drunk I believe, is that not correct? And again there is DNA.

I wonder about this, could there not have been a sexual assault...? I mean do they know I guess is what I mean? Sh was thrown on a train track and determining some things considering condition in 1988 wouldn't necessary be like it is today when it would or could still be hard to determine... I mean a young child was run over by a train... Enough said...
 
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