Townsend Police Get New Lead In Missing Girl's Cold Case
TOWNSEND (CBS) -- Townsend Police say they are actively investigating the disappearance, 33 years ago, of a 13-year-old local girl after receiving possible new clues on where to look.
Chief Erving Marshall has been involved in the investigation since Deborah Anne Quimby was reported missing May 3, 1977, a couple of weeks after he joined the Townsend Police.
WBZ-TV's Ron Sanders reports.
The department received two anonymous letters, in 2003 and 2004, prompting them to search Walker's Pond with side-scanning sonar and then drain it in 2004. Her parents spoke then of their hope to learn more. "Debbie is thought of by both of us every single day of our life, every single day," said Anne Quimby, her mother.
Several weeks ago, with help from the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, police interviewed and re-interviewed a number of people in the investigation. Then, without prompting from any recent media attention, another letter came in early December. "I received an anonymous letter in the mail, addressed to the Townsend Police Department which prompted us to do some preliminary searching," said Chief Marshall.
It was a small foot search in a wooded area along Turnpike Road where Debbie Quimby is believed to have been riding her bike to her grandfather's camp on Vinton Pond when she vanished. Chief Marshall said the search did not turn up any evidence and there are no viable suspects. He is not discussing the contents of the anonymous letter. "Any information anyone can provide, including the author of that anonymous letter, is certainly welcome," said Marshall.
Anyone who might have information can contact the Townsend Police by phone or through the chief's e-mail which can be found on his department's website.
