Southcoast Murders & Mysteries
Southcoast Murders & Mysteries, established in 2008, is based in New Bedford Massachusetts. We focus our interests on investigating and researching solved murders, unsolved murders, mysteries, unusual legends and history the Greater New Bedford area. We use verified evidence to accurately document the cases. Our research into the cases at times requires very strict confidentiality and strong partnerships. Information used comes from many sources, including public information, from family and investigators.
Southcoast Murders & Mysteries, established in 2008, is based in New Bedford Massachusetts. We focus our interests on investigating and researching solved murders, unsolved murders, mysteries, unusual legends and history the Greater New Bedford area. We use verified evidence to accurately document the cases. Our research into the cases at times requires very strict confidentiality and strong partnerships. Information used comes from many sources, including public information, from family and investigators.
We hope you find our website to be a valuable resource in your search for information.
Solved Murders
Why write about solved murders ? Why do they matter anymore ? Well, they do matter. These murders are forgotten and lost to history but are significant today. Perhaps the person(s) involved, the location of the murder, or even the murder itself is noteworthy.
Unsolved Murders
These crimes should never be forgotten. Today, as time goes by and leads dry up, official resources are often diverted to newer cases. Over time these cases become stagnant and are not able to be actively investigated. The passage of time sometimes helps with for new information. Relationships deteriorate, friendships wane, people find religion, guilt sets in, people talk. All of these factors can result in “new” sources of information. Although we frequently hear of old cases being solved, it is usually a result of DNA advances, not active investigation. Family members have been waiting years and decades for answers to how and why their loved ones have been murdered. These families have been patient throughout the years, only to be told "we are working on it". The system has no way of proving law enforcement is even trying to solve these cases.
The Southcoast area has 91 unsolved murders from 1975-2017. New Bedford has the most unsolved at fifty (50), Fall River has ten (10), Taunton and Westport each have five (5), Dartmouth has four (4), Fairhaven, Berkley, Rehoboth have two (2), and finally Swansea and Seekonk each have one (1).
DNA Testing: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has failed to collect DNA samples from between 10,000 and 15,000 convicted felons. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is working with the agencies whose responsibility is to collect the DNA sample — the Department of Correction, County Sheriffs, the Trial Court and Probation Department. By state law, anyone who is convicted of a felony must submit their DNA to the state, where it can then be compared to DNA from other unsolved crimes.
In Bristol County the backlog of uncollected DNA is about 600 people, about 200 of whom are dead. The state medical examiner is working on obtaining those samples.
Serial Killers
The Southcoast area has a history of having a few serial killers. The F.B.I. defines serial killings as: "A series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always by one offender alone". Most serial killings involve sexual contact with the victim(s). The motives of serial killers can include anger, thrill-seeking, financial gain, and attention seeking. The murders may be attempted or completed in a similar fashion. The victims may have something in common, for example, demographic profile, appearance, gender or race.
Missing
This section is keep the names and faces of those reported missing in the public. We have learned some people go missing due to a criminal element and some people go missing to start a new life under a new identity.
Unsolved Crimes
There are many unsolved crimes within the Southcoast. We highlight some of those cases.
Mysteries
Mysteries are something that is a secret, something that has no clear explanation, or something difficult to understand or explain. Mysteries are unexplained paranormal activity.
Solved Murders
Why write about solved murders ? Why do they matter anymore ? Well, they do matter. These murders are forgotten and lost to history but are significant today. Perhaps the person(s) involved, the location of the murder, or even the murder itself is noteworthy.
Unsolved Murders
These crimes should never be forgotten. Today, as time goes by and leads dry up, official resources are often diverted to newer cases. Over time these cases become stagnant and are not able to be actively investigated. The passage of time sometimes helps with for new information. Relationships deteriorate, friendships wane, people find religion, guilt sets in, people talk. All of these factors can result in “new” sources of information. Although we frequently hear of old cases being solved, it is usually a result of DNA advances, not active investigation. Family members have been waiting years and decades for answers to how and why their loved ones have been murdered. These families have been patient throughout the years, only to be told "we are working on it". The system has no way of proving law enforcement is even trying to solve these cases.
The Southcoast area has 91 unsolved murders from 1975-2017. New Bedford has the most unsolved at fifty (50), Fall River has ten (10), Taunton and Westport each have five (5), Dartmouth has four (4), Fairhaven, Berkley, Rehoboth have two (2), and finally Swansea and Seekonk each have one (1).
DNA Testing: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has failed to collect DNA samples from between 10,000 and 15,000 convicted felons. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is working with the agencies whose responsibility is to collect the DNA sample — the Department of Correction, County Sheriffs, the Trial Court and Probation Department. By state law, anyone who is convicted of a felony must submit their DNA to the state, where it can then be compared to DNA from other unsolved crimes.
In Bristol County the backlog of uncollected DNA is about 600 people, about 200 of whom are dead. The state medical examiner is working on obtaining those samples.
Serial Killers
The Southcoast area has a history of having a few serial killers. The F.B.I. defines serial killings as: "A series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always by one offender alone". Most serial killings involve sexual contact with the victim(s). The motives of serial killers can include anger, thrill-seeking, financial gain, and attention seeking. The murders may be attempted or completed in a similar fashion. The victims may have something in common, for example, demographic profile, appearance, gender or race.
Missing
This section is keep the names and faces of those reported missing in the public. We have learned some people go missing due to a criminal element and some people go missing to start a new life under a new identity.
Unsolved Crimes
There are many unsolved crimes within the Southcoast. We highlight some of those cases.
Mysteries
Mysteries are something that is a secret, something that has no clear explanation, or something difficult to understand or explain. Mysteries are unexplained paranormal activity.
Psychologically Impacted Home Disclosure
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93 Section 114: Massachusetts Real Estate Transactions; disclosure; psychologically impacted property.
The fact or suspicion that real property may be or is psychologically impacted shall not be deemed to be a material fact required to be disclosed in a real estate transaction. “Psychologically impacted” shall mean an impact being the result of facts or suspicions including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) that an occupant of real property is now or has been suspected to be infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or any other disease which reasonable medical evidence suggests being highly unlikely to be transmitted through the occupying of a dwelling;
(b) that the real property was the site of a felony, suicide or homicide; and
(c) that the real property has been the site of an alleged para-psychological or supernatural phenomenon.
No cause of action shall arise or be maintained against a seller or lessor of real property or a real estate broker or salesman, by statute or at common law, for failure to disclose to a buyer or tenant that the real property is or was psychologically impacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this section shall not authorize a seller, lessor or real estate broker or salesman to make a misrepresentation of fact or false statement.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93 Section 114: Massachusetts Real Estate Transactions; disclosure; psychologically impacted property.
The fact or suspicion that real property may be or is psychologically impacted shall not be deemed to be a material fact required to be disclosed in a real estate transaction. “Psychologically impacted” shall mean an impact being the result of facts or suspicions including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) that an occupant of real property is now or has been suspected to be infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or any other disease which reasonable medical evidence suggests being highly unlikely to be transmitted through the occupying of a dwelling;
(b) that the real property was the site of a felony, suicide or homicide; and
(c) that the real property has been the site of an alleged para-psychological or supernatural phenomenon.
No cause of action shall arise or be maintained against a seller or lessor of real property or a real estate broker or salesman, by statute or at common law, for failure to disclose to a buyer or tenant that the real property is or was psychologically impacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this section shall not authorize a seller, lessor or real estate broker or salesman to make a misrepresentation of fact or false statement.
Fall River Joseph Bump Unsolved Murder 2024
On March 15, 2024 at 9:46 PM Fall River Police responded to a reported argument that escalated into a stabbing at 234 Tripp Street.
Police and EMS arrived and located the victim, Joseph Bump (44) suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to St. Anne’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased from his injuries a short time later.
UPDATE: March 17 2024
Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado (42) was arrested and is charged with murder.
On March 15, 2024 at 9:46 PM Fall River Police responded to a reported argument that escalated into a stabbing at 234 Tripp Street.
Police and EMS arrived and located the victim, Joseph Bump (44) suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to St. Anne’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased from his injuries a short time later.
UPDATE: March 17 2024
Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado (42) was arrested and is charged with murder.
Fall River Colus Jamal-Mills Good Unsolved Murder 2024
On February 9 2024 at 11:40 AM Fall River Police responded to a reported shooting in the 100 block of Rock Street.
Police and EMS arrived and located the victim, Colus Jamal-Mills Good (18) critically wounded with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to St Lukes Hospital in New Bedford, where he was later pronounced dead.
UPDATE: March 17 2024
Xzavien Figueroa-Valcarel (19) and Giovanni Nunes (18) have both been charged with Accessory to Murder-After the Fact.
On February 9 2024 at 11:40 AM Fall River Police responded to a reported shooting in the 100 block of Rock Street.
Police and EMS arrived and located the victim, Colus Jamal-Mills Good (18) critically wounded with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to St Lukes Hospital in New Bedford, where he was later pronounced dead.
UPDATE: March 17 2024
Xzavien Figueroa-Valcarel (19) and Giovanni Nunes (18) have both been charged with Accessory to Murder-After the Fact.
Berkley Cheryle LeCornec Unsolved Murder 1980
On May 27, 1980, Cheryle LeCornec (24), mother of two (2) children was last seen leaving her home at 15 South Main Street.
Cheryle was at a family member's home in the morning, located near the end of Bayview Ave. While there she received a call from her father, Walter LeCornec, asking her to return home because he needed her help with packing items in preparation of moving to a new apartment. The family was moving from their 15 S. Main St. home in Berkley to an apartment on Ingell Street in Taunton.
Later that same day, Cheryle is dropped off at the Berkley home by a male friend from Fall River. Approximately 20 minutes later she is picked up again in a blue car. She was supposed to be returning to her family members home at the end of Bayview Ave. It was only a ten (10) minute drive. She was never seen again.
On June 1 1980, Walter & Winifred LeCornec, reported Cheryle missing to the Berkley Police Department.
On September 16, 1980, hunters discovered skeletal remains in a culvert in a wooded area a ¼ mile off of Bayview Ave near the intersection of Friend Street. It appeared her skull was crushed. An autopsy was performed, and the cause of death was determined to be from severe head and facial injuries resulting being struck with a blunt object. Her death was ruled a homicide. On September 22, 1980 the medical examiner officially identified the remains as those of Cheryle LeCornec using dental records.
In the years since Cheryle's murder, three (3) different teams of investigators tried to find her killer or killers. The names of potential suspects — and what may have happened — have been widely circulated through word of mouth in town and beyond but no one has come forward with information that could lead to an arrest. Eight (8) individuals took polygraph tests in connection the the investigation. All eight (8) have been ruled out as suspects. Cheryle was cremated, and this case was prior to DNA testing.
Mysteries Phone Call June 1980
In early June 1980, a collect call from Mattapoisett was supposedly placed by Cherlye LeCornec to the home of Emma D. Allen, a neighbor of the LeCornec Family. Although she did not accept the charges, Emma relayed the message to Wynne LeCornec, assuming that Cheryle needed a ride home from somewhere. As mentioned previously, The LeCornec family was in the process of moving, and their phone had been disconnected.
During the original 1980 investigation, investigators believed the call was purposely placed after Cheryle's murder to make it seem as if she had left town. Whomever placed the call would have known that the LeCornec's phone was disconnected. They would have known that Emma was a neighbor who Cheryle would sometimes place collect calls to. The phone call from Mattapoisett was never confirmed.
Family Statement 2023
There has been much confusion over the years regarding the vehicle Cheryle was last seen getting into. The original statement of Cheryle getting into a blue car was provided by a neighbor. Another neighbor saw her being dropped off in a white car. Her father was also quoted saying he last saw her being picked up in a truck. It is important to recognize that details printed in the newspapers from 1998 referenced original newspapers from 1980. Those newspapers contained a lot of inaccurate information because it didn't come from the LeCornec family.
The articles about the case span over 40 years and have many inconsistencies. Over the years, rumors have circulated throughout Berkley, like they do in any rural town. The purpose of sharing these articles isn't to create a specific narrative, but instead to shed light on what exactly was being investigated over four decades. It's important to be aware that several statements and claims made in these articles were never verified. Cheryle's story has been lost throughout time.
On May 27, 1980, Cheryle LeCornec (24), mother of two (2) children was last seen leaving her home at 15 South Main Street.
Cheryle was at a family member's home in the morning, located near the end of Bayview Ave. While there she received a call from her father, Walter LeCornec, asking her to return home because he needed her help with packing items in preparation of moving to a new apartment. The family was moving from their 15 S. Main St. home in Berkley to an apartment on Ingell Street in Taunton.
Later that same day, Cheryle is dropped off at the Berkley home by a male friend from Fall River. Approximately 20 minutes later she is picked up again in a blue car. She was supposed to be returning to her family members home at the end of Bayview Ave. It was only a ten (10) minute drive. She was never seen again.
On June 1 1980, Walter & Winifred LeCornec, reported Cheryle missing to the Berkley Police Department.
On September 16, 1980, hunters discovered skeletal remains in a culvert in a wooded area a ¼ mile off of Bayview Ave near the intersection of Friend Street. It appeared her skull was crushed. An autopsy was performed, and the cause of death was determined to be from severe head and facial injuries resulting being struck with a blunt object. Her death was ruled a homicide. On September 22, 1980 the medical examiner officially identified the remains as those of Cheryle LeCornec using dental records.
In the years since Cheryle's murder, three (3) different teams of investigators tried to find her killer or killers. The names of potential suspects — and what may have happened — have been widely circulated through word of mouth in town and beyond but no one has come forward with information that could lead to an arrest. Eight (8) individuals took polygraph tests in connection the the investigation. All eight (8) have been ruled out as suspects. Cheryle was cremated, and this case was prior to DNA testing.
Mysteries Phone Call June 1980
In early June 1980, a collect call from Mattapoisett was supposedly placed by Cherlye LeCornec to the home of Emma D. Allen, a neighbor of the LeCornec Family. Although she did not accept the charges, Emma relayed the message to Wynne LeCornec, assuming that Cheryle needed a ride home from somewhere. As mentioned previously, The LeCornec family was in the process of moving, and their phone had been disconnected.
During the original 1980 investigation, investigators believed the call was purposely placed after Cheryle's murder to make it seem as if she had left town. Whomever placed the call would have known that the LeCornec's phone was disconnected. They would have known that Emma was a neighbor who Cheryle would sometimes place collect calls to. The phone call from Mattapoisett was never confirmed.
Family Statement 2023
There has been much confusion over the years regarding the vehicle Cheryle was last seen getting into. The original statement of Cheryle getting into a blue car was provided by a neighbor. Another neighbor saw her being dropped off in a white car. Her father was also quoted saying he last saw her being picked up in a truck. It is important to recognize that details printed in the newspapers from 1998 referenced original newspapers from 1980. Those newspapers contained a lot of inaccurate information because it didn't come from the LeCornec family.
The articles about the case span over 40 years and have many inconsistencies. Over the years, rumors have circulated throughout Berkley, like they do in any rural town. The purpose of sharing these articles isn't to create a specific narrative, but instead to shed light on what exactly was being investigated over four decades. It's important to be aware that several statements and claims made in these articles were never verified. Cheryle's story has been lost throughout time.
Fall River Joshua Medeiros Unsolved Murder 2024
On February 9 2024 at 7:40 PM Fall River Police responded to a reported shooting at Blackstone and Nashua Streets, located behind Stop & Shop.
Police and EMS arrived and located the victim, Joshua Medeiros (34) critically wounded with multiple gunshot wounds. Joshua was transported to the trauma unit at St Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.
UPDATE: February 16 2024
Joshua Medeiros succumbed to his injuries. His death has been ruled a homicide.
On February 9 2024 at 7:40 PM Fall River Police responded to a reported shooting at Blackstone and Nashua Streets, located behind Stop & Shop.
Police and EMS arrived and located the victim, Joshua Medeiros (34) critically wounded with multiple gunshot wounds. Joshua was transported to the trauma unit at St Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.
UPDATE: February 16 2024
Joshua Medeiros succumbed to his injuries. His death has been ruled a homicide.
New Bedford Joshua J. Lorenzi Missing March 18, 2021
Joshua J. Lorenzi (45) was homeless at the time of his disappearance. Joshua has not had contact with his family since March of 2021. Joshua was reported missing to the New Bedford Police Department on March 18, 2022 case number 22-2553-OF.
Joshua J. Lorenzi (45) was homeless at the time of his disappearance. Joshua has not had contact with his family since March of 2021. Joshua was reported missing to the New Bedford Police Department on March 18, 2022 case number 22-2553-OF.