Melissa Tremblay: The Investigation
Melissa Tremblay (Bob Ward, Boston 25)
Discovering Melissa Tremblay
On Monday, September 12th, 1988, sometime around 4pm, Detective Thomas Murphy with the Lawrence, Massachusetts PD got a call over the radio from his boss while he was sitting at the public library. Details were scant, but it sounded urgent. He just told him to get over to the rail yard to speak with a man. He hurried to his cruiser and crossed the Merrimack River, driving the 2 miles quickly to southern Lawrence, arriving at the intersection of Andover Street and the B&M railroad.
He had no idea what he was walking into.
He could see some people gathered near tracks in the distance. Two trains, sitting next to each other on parallel tracks, concealed from view the gruesome discovery that a B&M rail worker had made while making a routine walk of the area.
11-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay was laying face down on the tracks. Her left leg was severed by the train near her hip. Her dark brown hair was matted. Her hands were caked with dry mud. She was fully clothed. She wore high-top sneakers, and a white shirt with black and gray stars. There were other wounds to her head and torso, including a “gaping incision” in her lower neck. It was not immediately clear if she had died from a train strike or if her body was placed there in an attempt to conceal a murder.
About 70 feet away from the location of Melissa’s body, Detective Murphy found a small denim purse that contained coins, a candy wrapper, a ‘bank slip’ from an institution in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, sparkle makeup, and an ID card for the Boys & Girls Club. Police later described this secondary location as showing, “evidence of a struggle.” Murder was looking more likely.
The day prior, on Sunday, September 11th, 1988, Janet and Melissa had driven the 20 minutes from their home in Salem, New Hampshire, to a haunt in Lawrence, Massachusetts, called the “LaSalle Social Club.” Though it had a fancy name, it was really just a dark bar and dance club in a nondescript building in the center of Lawrence. Janet met up with her boyfriend, Ronald, at the bar. Janet had been hanging at the bar regularly, and her daughter often came with her.
As usual, Melissa was given free reign to wander the streets of downtown Lawrence. The bar was in a bustling and loud part of town. The main streets, like Andover, had strip malls and businesses. There was a major intersection of the B&M rail lines and Andover Street just a block away. The tracks were a seedy place, but that didn’t stop local children from playing on them. Melissa had gotten to know some of them.
The bartender at the LaSalle Social Club made Melissa some popcorn. She told him she would be right back, but she never returned.
As the clock in the bar counted the passing minutes, Janet grew more and more concerned. At 9:00PM, she called the police and filed a missing person report.
At 8:00AM the next morning, Maryann, who had seen Melissa the previous afternoon, teamed up with Janet to look for her. Maryann later said, “We looked in empty cabooses. We called the police, the hospital, her school, her friends... We did everything—even if it seemed stupid.”
At 5:00PM they had their answer. There were cops arriving in droves. Word spread quickly. Her daughter had been found.
Autopsy, early investigation
The day after Melissa’s body was discovered, on Tuesday, September 13th, an autopsy was done at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
The most obvious injuries were that her left leg had been severed near the hip joint along with part of her right foot. It was determined that she had been struck by a train post-mortem.
At the hospital, the medical examiner discovered that she had been stabbed three times—the first was in the center of her abdomen just above the belly button, the second was a stab to her lower ribs on her right side, and the third wound was just behind the second on her side. On her head, there were two deep lacerations—lacerations are tears in the skin caused by blunt force trauma.
There were numerous bruises to her face and back. There was a foot mark on her back suggesting she had been “stomped.” She was fully clothed when she was found. Her hands were caked with soil. The medical examiner who conducted the autopsy ruled that she had died from the injuries to her head and the stab wounds.
The ME did not believe she had been sexually assaulted.
Assistant Essex County District Attorney, Fred McAlary said, “This is a brutal murder. It’s brutal because of the circumstances around the scene and the victim’s age. No stone will be left unturned.”
Tommy Lynn Sells
On Friday, March 10th, 2000, Lawrence PD announced a possible suspect: a man named Tommy Lynn Sells.
He certainly fit the profile. A couple months prior he was charged in Texas with capital murder for the killing of a 13-year-old girl and the attempted murder of a 10-year-old girl. He slit both of their throats—knife attacks, just like in Melissa’s case. In the 80s and the 90s, he often hung around railyards and hopped trains.
Lawrence Detective John McDonald learned about Tommy Lynn Sells on Good Morning America, and he was struck by similarities to Melissa’s case.
Tommy was a drifter and a carnival worker who had confessed to 13 murders in 7 states since he was arrested in January of 2000, including Arkansas, California, and Arizona. He claimed to have used different weapons—guns, knives, an ice pick, and a shovel. The Texas Rangers believed him, saying, “He knows details about the crime scenes that have never been reported. And for whatever reason, he’s cooperating.”
But he didn’t quite fit the profile of the man seen at the tan van. That man was described as being in his mid-30s, but Tommy was born in 1965, making him just 23 years old in 1988.
It turns out, Tommy wasn’t our man. He was later cleared of Melissa’s murder. He was put to death by lethal injection in 2014 for his other crimes.
DNA and Genetic Genealogy
In 2014, 26 years after Melissa’s murder, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office took another crucial look at the case.
According to prosecutor Jessica Strasnick, “a swab of three fingernail clippings and debris from Melissa’s right hand generated a Y-STR DNA profile.” We’ll refer to this as the “fingernail profile.” Investigators believed that this profile belonged to Melissa’s killer.
The fact that a Y-STR profile was developed meant that the killer was male, but it wasn’t precise enough to identify a single person. The gold standard for forensic identification is a 13-STR DNA profile—which can be used to identify anyone on the planet. Y-STR profile development is often done in cases where labs fail to get a full 13-STR DNA profile.
In 2019, investigators had the physical evidence tested again for DNA. From an area on Melissa’s shirt that was near a knife stab hole, the lab was able to generate a Y-STR profile. Curiously, this Y-STR profile did not match the fingernail profile. We’ll refer to this profile as the “shirt profile.”
This meant that investigators had two different profiles to which they could compare suspects for potential matches.
Forensic genealogy made a big national splash in April of 2018 when Joseph DeAngelo, dubbed “The Golden State Killer,” was caught using this new technique, which was made possible by the increasing size and accessibility of large DNA databases.
In late 2019 or early 2020, investigators contracted a company called Identifinders to work with the fingernail profile and the shirt profile, to see what could be done using genetic genealogy.
Though we’ll discuss this in greater detail later, the fingernail profile led investigators to a particular family with the last name McClendon.
Investigation into the McClendon family
The report, which was issued on February 16th, 2020, kicked the investigation into high gear. Police began tracking down anyone with the last name McClendon that had a connection to Lawrence—especially those with a criminal history.
In June of 2020, a Massachusetts state trooper traveled to a town called Athol and spoke to a man named Timothy McClendon. He had received a speeding ticket in Lawrence in 1989. He was initially unwilling to provide a DNA sample, but when he was sent a grand jury summons, he later agreed. In October of 2020, investigators got results back from the lab that his Y-STR profile matched the fingernail profile. This, in turn, meant that all of Timothy’s male relatives that shared a common ancestor would match the fingernail profile as well.
To this point, the McClendon family name hadn’t appeared in any of the police’s files. There was no previous connection to the case, and there was nobody in the McClendon family who had been investigated.
Cops started to build out his family tree and asked about other male members of his family who may have had a connection to Lawrence, and that’s how they learned about Marvin McClendon, Timothy’s older brother. Marvin also went by Skip.
Police traveled to Alabama and spoke to Marvin for the first time on March 15th, 2021. He was cooperative, agreeing to speak to investigators and to provide a DNA sample. He denied that he had anything to do with Melissa’s death. He said that his brother, Timothy, might be the McClendon that they were looking for.
Marvin McClendon is arrested
On the afternoon of April 26th, 2022, Marvin was arrested at his home in Bremen, Alabama for the murder of Melissa Tremblay. Marvin was 41 years old at the time of Melissa’s murder, and police believed that he was the perpetrator.
Marvin McClendon was born on July 3rd, 1947 and went to Tewksbury High School, graduating in 1965. In 1966, he enlisted in the armed forces at Boston Army Base, which was a major recruitment office, and served four years in the Air Force. During that stint, he met his future wife, Patricia, in California. When he got out in 1970, they got a place together back in his hometown of Tewksbury, MA.
They had kids right away. His first son, Scott, was born in 1970, and his second son, Todd, was born in 1971. He and Patricia remained married for 13 years, and when they split up in 1983, she moved away to Utah.
Marvin married again in 1985, but split after a short time. It was around the time of this split, in 1988, that Marvin was living in Chelmsford, MA, about 20 minutes away from where Melissa was murdered. He was 41 years old and worked as a handyman and a carpenter for a Seventh Day Adventist church in Lawrence. That church was only a quarter-mile from where Melissa’s body was discovered.
Marvin worked as a carpenter both independently and with his father. He worked off and on for the Massachusetts prison system as a corrections officer and eventually accrued 20 years of service. He even said to a Massachusetts State Trooper who was present at his arrest: “At least I got 20 years of my pension.”
Melissa’s friend, Andrea, said, “It is shocking that he was a churchgoing correctional officer. The fact that he was a member of law enforcement never occurred to any of us.” She continued, “How did she cross his path? Was he watching her? Did he stumble upon her that day? Are there other families out there waiting for closure? There are a lot of questions yet to be answered.”
Click here for Part 2: The Trials of Marvin McClendon
If you have any information at all on the murder of Melissa Tremblay, please contact the Lawrence Police Dept at 978-794-5900.
This text has been adapted from the Murder, She Told podcast episode, “Melissa Tremblay: Inside the Investigation. To hear Melissa’s full story, find Murder, She Told on your favorite podcast platform.
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Melissa Tremblay, age 4, approx 1981 (WHNT)
Melissa Tremblay, age 4, with Janet Tremblay, Christmas 1981 (Patch.com)
Melissa Tremblay, age 4, in pink, with cousins at Easter, approx 1981 (WHNT)
Melissa Tremblay, age 10, 1987 school picture
Melissa Tremblay in snow storm (Nicole for Murder, She Told)
Melissa Tremblay on right (Nicole for Murder, She Told)
Melissa Tremblay on far end of table (Nicole for Murder, She Told)
(Shared by Nicole for Murder, She Told)
Melissa Tremblay, age 8, with Janet Tremblay, approx 1985 (WHNT)
Melissa Tremblay, age 11 (WMUR)
Melissa Tremblay, age 11 (WMUR)
Melissa Tremblay's home in Salem, NH on Haigh Avenue (WMUR)
Lancaster elementary school in Salem, NH (WMUR)
LaSalle Social Club in Lawrence, MA (WMUR)
B&M Railroad yard in Lawrence, MA, in 1988 (WCVB)
Crime scene at B&M Railroad yard in Lawrence, MA, in 1988 (WCVB)
Crime scene at B&M Railroad yard in Lawrence, MA, in 1988 (WMUR)
Funeral of Melissa Tremblay (WMUR)
Funeral of Melissa Tremblay (WMUR)
Funeral of Melissa Tremblay (WMUR)
Janet Tremblay at her daughter’s, Melissa Tremblay’s, funeral (WMUR)
Jerry Kayo, Asst. Dir. of the Salem NH Boys and Girls Club (WMUR)
Neighbor of Melissa Trembaly (WMUR)
Janet Tremblay, obituary photo
Janet Tremblay, Melissa’s mother, died in 2015 at the age of 70
Marvin McClendon, booking photo, arrested in Bremen, Alabama, age 74
Marvin McClendon, 18 years old
Marvin McClendon, age 17
Marvin McClendon, house in Bremen, Alabama (Salem Times)
Marvin McClendon, age 74, at arraignment (WMUR)
Marvin McClendon, age 74, at arraignment (WMUR)
Marvin McClendon, age 74, at arraignment (WMUR)
Sources For This Episode
Mentioned in this episode: Cracking Cold Cases Using Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Newspaper articles
Various articles from Berkshire Eagle, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Eagle Tribune, Montgomery Advisor, New Hampshire Union Leader, Salem Observer, Sentinel and Enterprise, Transcript Telegram, and the Valley News, here.
Written by various authors including Anjali Huynh, Nick Stoico, Chris Mclaughlin, Diana Brown, Donna Thornton, Emily Sweeney, Nick Stoico, Erin Tiernan, Flint McColgan, JM Lawrence, John Basilesco, Jonathan Phelps, Julie Manganis, Magella Cantara, Maria Alvarez, Monique Duhamel, Paul Freely, Susan Forrest, and Travis Andersen.
Special thanks to the extensive coverage by print reporter Jill Harmacinksi.
Official documents
Essex County Superior Court, Docket Record, as of 1/5/2024
Various court records, 42 in total, between June 2022 and December 2023, as outlined here.
Courtroom audio from Essex Superior Court
NOAA historical weather reports
Interviews
Special thanks to Nicole and Andrea for speaking with us for this episode.
Online written sources
'Janet M. Tremblay' (Goundrey Dewhirst), 11/20/2015
'Melissa Tremblay, 11, fatally stabbed…' (Websleuths), 12/28/2019
'Melissa Ann “Missy” Tremblay' (FindaGrave), 2/27/2022, by Honoring their story
'Janet Bogannam Tremblay' (FindaGrave), 2/27/2022, by Honoring their story
'Ex-Massachusetts corrections worker arrested in' (NBC News), 4/27/2022, by Antonio Planas
'Former Mass correction employee arrested in 1988 killing…' (WBUR), 4/27/2022, by AP
'Authorities make arrest in 1988 killing of 11 year-old girl' (WCAX), 4/27/2022, by AP
'"Still in Shock"; Retired corrections officer nabbed…' (Daily Beast), 4/27/2022, by Donna Thornton
'In 1988, an 11-year old was stabbed to death…' (ABC News), 4/27/2022, by Emily Shapiro
'Ex-Massachusetts corrections worker Marvin "Skip" McClendon…' (Mass Live), 4/27/2022, by Erin Tiernan
'Ex-corrections officer arrested in 1988 cold case murder…' (Oxygen), 4/27/2022, by Jax Miller
'Alabama man arrested for Salem girl's 1988 murder…' (Gloucester Times), 4/27/2022, by Jill Harmacinski
'Retired correction officer arrested for 1988 murder of 11-Year-old…' (CBS News), 4/27/2022
'Alabama man arrested in 1988 murder of 11-year-old girl' (Mass.gov), 4/27/2022
'Man arrested in 1988 killing of 11-year old girl…' (WMUR), 4/27/2022, by Ray Brewer
'Suspect is finally charged in cold case stabbing murder…' (Investigation Discovery), 4/27/2022, by Robin Raven
'NH Girl was killed after wandering…' (People), 4/28/2022, by Chris Harris
'Cullman county man arrested in 1988 slaying…' (Gadsen Times), 4/28/2022, by Donna Thornton
'Authorities make arrest in 1988 killing of 11 year-old girl' (Court TV), 4/28/2022, by Mark Pratt
'Family of Melissa Tremblay releases statement' (Boston 25 News), 4/29/2022
'Man arrested in connection with murder…' (Pulse of NH), 5/2/2022, by Korie Eiles
'DNA cited as factor that led to break in 1988 cold case…' (Tahlequah Daily Press), 5/13/2022, by Jill Harmacinski
'Ex-Corrections officer held without bail…' (NBC Boston), 5/13/2022
'Man held without bail in 1988 murder…' (WBAL), 5/13/2022
'Alabama man linked through 1988 cold case murder…' (Boston Herald), 5/14/2022, by Flint McColgan
'Family reacts after man charged in…' (NBC Boston), 5/14/2022
'Family of murder victim speaks out on Alabama man…' (Alabama Public Radio), 5/14/2022, by Pat Duggins
'New Hampshire family speaks out following arrest in 1988 murder…' (WHDH), 5/15/2022, by AP
'Slain 11-year-old girl's family voices "great joy" and mixed emotions…' (Law and Crime), 5/16/2022, by Alberto Luperon
'Family of 11-year old victim in 1988 murder…' (Boston.com), 5/16/2022, by Arianna MacNeill
'Man accused of 1988 cold case murder of girl, 11, in Lawrence, indicted' (Union Leader), 6/15/2022, by Flint McColgan
'McClendon indicted in 1988 Salem girl's murder…' (Eagle-Tribune), 6/16/2022, by Jill Harmacinski
'Ex-prison guard pleads not guilty in 1988 murder…' (NHPR), 7/7/2022, by AP
'Alabama Man faces murder charge in 1988 death of Salem girl' (WCVB), 7/7/2022
'She has always been in our thoughts…' (Patch) 7/8/2022, by Scott Souza
'Family of girl murdered "never gave up hope"…' (WHNT), 7/19/2022, by Kait Newsom
'Prosecutor; McClendon's DNA matched samples from murdered girl…' (CHNI, LCC), 12/28/2022
'Lawyer for man charged in 1988 murder of 11-year-old girl…' (NBC Boston), 2/21/2023, by Marc Fortier
'How man accused of killing New Hampshire girl in 1988…' (WMUR), 2/22/2023, by Monica Hernandez
'December trial date scheduled in Lawrence child murder case' (Cleburn Times Review), 5/2/2023, by Jill Harmacinski
'Murder trial for NH girl's 1988 murder in Lawrence set for next month' (Salem News), 11/24/2023, by Jill Harmacinski
'Salem jury deadlocks, mistrial declared...' (Boston Globe), 12/27/2023, by Tonya Alanez
'Family of girl killed in 1988 reacts to murder mistrial' (Boston 10), 12/29/2023
'Family of Melissa Tremblay, cold case murder victim, releases statement' (Eagle-Tribune), 12/29/2023, by Jill Harmacinski
'Retrial of Alabama man charged with 1988 Lawrence murder....' (Boston 25 News), 10/15/2024, by Bob Ward
'Jury begins deliberating in trial of Alabama man...' (AP), 10/28/2024, by Michael Casey
'Jury finds Alabama man not guilty...' (AP), 11/5/2024, by Michael Casey
'Bob Ward, Boston 25 Facebook post' (Facebook), 11/5/2024, by Bob Ward
'Man found not guilty of 1988 murder...' (Boston Globe), 11/5/2024, by Tonya Alanez
Online video sources
'WMUR archive; 1988 killing of Salem girl' (WMUR), 1/17/2017
'WMUR archive; Funeral service for Melissa Tremblay in 1988' (WMUR), 1/18/2017
'Full video; Man arraigned in 1988 death of Melissa Tremblay' (YouTube), 4/27/2022
'Former Massachusetts corrections worker arrested…' (NBC), 4/27/2022
'Man arrested in 1988 killing of 11-year-old girl from Salem, NH' (WMUR), 4/27/2022
'In 1988, an 11-year-old was stabbed to death…' (ABC), 4/27/2022
'New developments revealed in cold case as suspect…' (NBC Boston), 5/13/2022
'Man accused in girl's cold case death back in court' (MSN), 2/21/2023
'Ex-Corrections officer held without bail…' (NBC Boston), 2/21/2023
'How man accused in killing New Hampshire girl…' (WMUR), 2/22/2023
'Victim's friend 'devastated' after jury fails to reach verdict' (WMUR), 12/28/2023
'Family of girl killed in 1988 reacts to murder mistrial' (NBC Boston), http://nbcboston.com 12/29/2023
Photos
Photos from WHNT, Patch.com, WMUR, WCVB, Google Maps, FindaGrave, Tewksbury yearbook, Salem Times, and the Eagle Tribune.
Credits
Vocal performance, research, and audio editing by Kristen Seavey
Writing, research, and photo editing by Byron Willis
Additional research by Chelsea Hanrahan and Ericka Pierce
Murder, She Told is created by Kristen Seavey.