Post by Joanna on Sept 2, 2015 23:07:58 GMT -5
Can You Help Stephen King’s Son Solve a Murder?
Author Joe Hill knows a thing or two about horror and mystery – after all, his dad is famed horror writer Stephen King. So when he comes up with a new theory about an unsolved murder, people listen.
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The Lady of the Dunes case goes back to July 26, 1974, when two girls found the body of a woman on the side of a secluded road near Dunes’ Edge Campground, which is located around a mile from Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Mass. The auburn-haired female (composite above), who appeared to be in her 20s or 30s, was lying face-down. She was dressed in Wrangler jeans, there was a blue bandana beneath her had and a green blanket or towel was also discovered at the scene. She had massive trauma to the side of her skull and had it was later confirmed the killer had taken extraordinary measures to conceal the woman’s identity by pulling some of her teeth and cutting off her hands. At the time, investigators believed the woman had also been sexually assaulted and that a military entrenchment tool had been used in an attempt to decapitate her. The woman had what was described as an athletic build, was around 5'5"and weighed approximately 135 pounds. Following discovery of the badly mutilated corpse, the site became the most popular tourist attraction in Provincetown.
Since the gruesome discovery, the woman’s body has been exhumed twice, first in 1980 and again in 2001. Some believe the lady was tied to the notorious Winter Hill Gang leader, James “Whitey” Bulger, who was a regular at The Crown & Anchor, a local hangout. In 2001, rumors arose again that Bulger was a switch-hitter and it was claimed he had worked as a gay male prostitute. A size 10 shoe print was found at the scene and Bulger wore a size 10 and the green towel, or blanket, was believed to have come from the Crown & Anchor.
Author Sandra Lee claims her stepfather, a violent alcoholic, spent nights at the Crown & Anchor with Bulger while her family camped at Dunes' Edge. "Not many people knew that Bulger was hanging out in Provincetown, nor did they realize he was a switch hitter," Lee contends. "My stepfather would stumble into the campsite during the wee morning hours. He was always inebriated and disheveled, often bruised and bloody, and sometimes wearing a green cotton blanket around his shoulders which he's taken from the inn." She believes her step-father may have been present when the Lady of the Dunes was killed. "Whether it was my stepfather, I don't know. It was too coincidental that we camped there. If you rolled off the embankment, there she was. The reason why I found her was because I was running from a bad situation.” The Provincetown Police Department (PPD) has said that several witnesses and photographs placed Bulger in the area at the time of the murder. Bulger, now 85, was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., four years ago, after more than 16 years on the run. When he fled Boston in 1995, he had been charged with participating in 19 murders, as well as other crimes. He is now serving two consecutive life sentences.
The PPD also followed up on several leads which pointed to local individuals as well as a serial killer. To date, the theories have led nowhere.
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But Hill thinks he might have another lead. While watching Jaws on the big screen for the first time, he caught a glimpse of what he thinks might be the Lady of The Dunes. The woman appears in the beginning of the Fourth of July scene, looking over her shoulder at the camera for a few seconds before disappearing into the crowd. She matches the description, she’s the right age and she’s wearing jeans and a blue bandanna. Hill is looking for information from anyone who was there at the filming that day who might know something about the extras used in the movie. If you think you could help, check out Hill’s Tumblr page joehillsthrills.tumblr.com/post/126865229352/the-lady-the-shark and tell him what you know.
Sources: Jennifer Billock, AVClub, September 2, 2015, and Sam Baltrusis, Boston Spirit Magazine, October/November 2014.