Latest news with #Unsolved
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. families call for change in handling of cold cases
At the State House, a call for justice for the families of unsolved murder victims. Boston's Louis D. Brown Peace Institute is calling for major changes in the way law enforcement handles cold case investigations. Soon families will appeal to lawmakers with one simple message: unsolved cases deserve a second chance. At the State House, the families of murder victims whose cases have gone unsolved, share unbearable pain. 'If I can't have my son back, at least I want it to be solved. And I don't want no one else's family to have to go through this,' Relonda Ballard, mother of murder victim David Ballard said. 'I lost my only child to gun violence in January 2008, at the age of 18, and his case remains unsolved to this day, 17 years later,' Natasha Carrington said. She is the mother of Boston murder victim Darrion Carrington. Boston 25 Reporter Bob Ward profiled his case on New England's Unsolved last September. Natasha is pushing for passage of a new bill that would keep open the line of communication between families and law enforcement 'For those of us, like me, who never see the inside of a courtroom, or never saw your loved ones case investigated, our grief is heavy,' Carrington said. The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute is behind a bill that calls for the Attorney General, not district attorneys, to review unsolved murder cases after three years. Alexis Smith lost her son in 2017. 'We need that bill because we care about each other. There are so many people impacted by this loss that are struggling with continuing their education, their mental health isn't good, and when we get justice, it begins the healing process,' Smith said. The bill's backers point to research suggesting that homicide cases of black and brown people are more likely to grow cold, than when the murder victims are white. They believe regular review of cold cases can make a difference for everyone. 'Regardless of where you live, regardless where you are from, that your case is met with the same dignity and compassion,' Pace McConkie, Policy Director for the Louis D Brown Peace Initiative, said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
12 years later, family of murdered Malden U.S. Marine Shawn Clark still seeking justice
January 29 is always a difficult day for Anita Clark, Shawn Clark's mother. 'My thoughts are with Shawn today. My thoughts are to get a little bit of justice for him,' she said. It was at about twelve thirty on January 29, 2013, that two hooded people walked into Shawn Clark's skateboard shop. Surveillance cameras inside the shop recorded the incident and within moments there was a violent struggle. Shawn was shot and killed on the sidewalk, on Malden's Main Street, in broad daylight. Shawn Clark opened his store, Patriot Skateboard, after returning from active duty overseas, including two tours of Iraq. No one expected he would survive a foreign war, only to die on the streets of Malden. Authorities have released images of the suspects captured on the store's surveillance system, but in all this time, there is still no arrest. Anita Clark refuses to give up. 'I'd like an apology at least. At least for what they've done. That's 12 years we've had to live with this,' she said. In 2016, Boston 25 News Reporter Bob Ward interviewed Melissa Clark, Shawn's wife, for New England's Unsolved. Widow of Marine killed in skate shop still searching for answers He spoke to her Wednesday on the phone. Melissa said this is a tough day for her family, but she remains hopeful there will someday be answers. 'They didn't really rob the shop,' Melissa Clark said in 2016. 'They robbed us. I don't think anybody should ever be able to get away with that.' Anyone with information can contact Mass State Police at: 781-897-6600, or Malden Police at: 781-397-7171. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
