Crime of the Truest Kind

Veteran crime reporter Bob Ward of Boston 25 News joins me for a candid conversation about the recent online hysteria surrounding a New England serial killer after 12 people have been recovered around Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

Drawing from his nearly three decades as host of "New England's Unsolved," Bob shares the profound impact of covering cases like Theresa Corley's 1978 murder—a young woman he personally knew before her death. This intimate connection frames a deeper discussion about the responsibility journalists carry when amplifying victims' stories.

The conversation turns to the troubling social media frenzy claiming a serial killer is responsible for recent bodies discovered throughout New England. While acknowledging the region's history with serial predators, we agree that there is cause for concern about how unfounded speculation harms legitimate investigations and re-traumatizes families. 

"It's very tempting to think that one bad guy or two bad guys are responsible for all this evil, "but I just don't think life works that way."  -Bob Ward

We spotlight numerous cases deserving attention—Melanie Melanson, Debra Melo, Bruce Crowley, Reina Morales Rojas—whose families continue waiting for answers while internet sleuths chase shadows.

• The justice system often fails victims' families by providing few updates while requiring them to repeatedly relive trauma at parole hearings

• Online speculation about a "New England serial killer" diverts resources from legitimate investigations

• Internet misinformation is causing real harm, from false confessions to wrongful accusations

• True crime advocacy should focus on supporting families and respecting victims rather than sensationalizing cases

Join us at Middlesex County Superior Court on Monday, May 12th at 10am for the arraignment in Charlene Rosemond's murder case, whose family has waited 16 years for justice.

Other cases included: Andy Puglisi, Beth Brodie, Jeffrey Curley, Janet Downing, Colleen Ritzer, Shaun Ouillette, Miguel Oliveras, New Bedford Highway murders, Boston Strangler, Henry Bedard, Jr, Deanna Cremin, Bruce Crowley, Brittany Tee, Maura Murray, Shannan Gilbert, Lonene Rogers "Lonnie's Law"

Up next, the history of serial killers in New England.

What do Auntie Em, Dropkick Murphys, Mr. Ballen, and HoJos have in common? We roll into Quincy for a look and a story. 

A Missing Mom Mystery. Sandra Crispo vanished from her Hanson, Massachusetts home on August 7, 2019. She left her beloved dog, Clarance, behind without food or water and her home unlocked with lights and air conditioning running. She was living her best life in her new home and spending quality hours with her young grandsons. 

Six years later, her case remains unsolved despite evidence suggesting foul play, including blood found throughout her house and witness reports of an argument the night she disappeared.

• Sandra had recently moved to Hanson from Quincy, downsizing to a small house after her father passed away 
• Her father left behind a substantial estate including reported gold bars, creating significant family tension
• Sandra was last seen on surveillance at Cumberland Farms buying cigarettes after her son-in-law helped her drop her car at a mechanic
• Neighbors reported hearing an argument involving two men at Sandra's home the night she disappeared
• Blood from Sandra and an unidentified male family associate was found in the home six weeks after her disappearance
• Sandra was 54 years old when she vanished and had found new purpose in being a grandmother to her daughter's children
• Despite grand jury testimony and ongoing investigation, no arrests have been made in the case

Information is needed in Sandra Crispo's disappearance, contact Hanson Police Department at 781-293-4625 or Massachusetts State Police Detectives at 508-894-2600.

Justice is coming for Charline at last! News broke this week in her 16-year-old murder case. The first real hope for justice for Charline and her family. 

On Thursday, April 10, Middlesex County District Attorney Marion Ryan announced the arrest of Heinsky Anacreon, age 38, of Malden, Mass, who was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury on charges of murder, willfully misleading a police officer and willfully misleading an attorney, charging him with first-degree murder in this cold case that has haunted Charline's family since the day she disappeared on April 7, 2009. The investigation revealed a heartbreaking betrayal - Charline was lured by so-called friends with the promise of a sweet deal on a car, only to be robbed and killed. Most disturbing perhaps is the evidence that after the murder, her killers celebrated with a bottle of Moet champagne and toasted their windfall. 

For those who've followed Crime of the Truest Kind, this case has been near to my heart. After sharing her case in a live show in 2024, and interviewing Charline's sister Rose (listen to episodes 71 and 72) last fall and advocating for this case at every opportunity, seeing this development brings joy. Nothing can bring Charline back or erase her family's 16 years of hoping and waiting for her killers to be caught. As we look toward a trial, I will continue following every development. Advocacy is key. 

After 16 years, there's finally been an arrest in the murder case of Charline Rosemond, a 23-year-old woman from Everett who was shot to death for $4,000 cash in 2009. Middlesex County District Attorney Marion Ryan has announced charges against Heinsky Anacreon, revealing that Charline was set up by someone she considered a close friend, Roberto Jude, who died before facing justice.

• Charline disappeared April 7, 2009, she was found on April 13. 
• DNA evidence on the car's door handle linked Roberto Jude to the scene
• Anacreon allegedly admitted to disposing of the murder weapon in a river
• Charline's family will be meeting on April 13th at 3pm in Union Square, Somerville – the 16th anniversary of when she was found