GRANBY, Mass. – After nearly 45 years, a 28-year-old woman who was found shot to death near a road in western Massachusetts has finally been identified by police.
In a news release, Massachusetts State Police said that the “Granby Girl” has been identified as Patricia Ann Tucker. She was found buried under leaves on a logging road near Amherst Road in Granby, Massachusetts on Nov. 15, 1978. She had been shot.
Patricia’s married names were Patricia Heckman, Patricia Dale, and Patricia Coleman, officials say. At the time of her disappearance and death, she went by Patricia Coleman, but her remains were buried at Granby cemetery with “Unknown” written on the headstone.
For decades, she was known as “Granby Girl,” according to The Associated Press.
“Unsolved cases sometimes seem to go cold, but investigators never give up,” said Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan in the news release. “The Massachusetts State Police, Granby Police and Northwestern District Attorney’s staff worked collaboratively for years to achieve this breakthrough in the investigation, and—most importantly—provide some answers to victim’s family.”
Around two years ago, Massachusetts State Police got Tucker’s DNA profile through a forensic laboratory. A woman in Maryland was identified and was possibly related to her, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, according to the AP. The woman was contacted by the police. She led investigators to Tucker’s son. He was about five years old when his mother disappeared.
“While it’s satisfying to finally know who ‘Granby Girl’ actually was, the investigation won’t stop until we identify her killer and bring the family an additional measure of closure and justice,” said First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, using the name by which the victim was referred to in media accounts following the discovery of her body, in the news release. “This investigation has spanned decades, and will continue until each and every possible lead is explored.”
Investigators took the son’s DNA and it was a 100% parent/child match, the AP said.
Police learned that Tucker was married to Gerald Coleman when she died. They got married in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut, and they lived in East Hampton, Connecticut. Gerald Coleman did not report his wife missing. Police said he died in a Massachusetts state prison in 1996 and was considered a person of interest in her murder.
In a press conference Monday, a statement from Patricia Tucker’s son, Matthew Dale, was read out loud by First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, police say.
“First, I would like to say thank you to everyone in trying to identify my mother and wrapping your arms around her, especially the community of Granby. Thank you for never giving up on her. At least I have some answers now after 44 years. It’s a lot to process, but hopefully, closure can begin now. Thank you again.”
