Murder, She Told

1961 - Lincoln, Massachusetts.

What happened inside Joan Risch’s Lincoln home on October 24, 1961 may never be fully known.

Blood stained the kitchen floor. Someone appeared to have tried to wipe it away. Her two young children were left behind, but Joan herself was nowhere to be found.

As investigators worked to reconstruct Joan’s final known hours, unsettling witness accounts and conflicting clues began to emerge. Was Joan attacked inside her own home? Did she leave willingly? And if she did, why would she leave her children behind?

The theories surrounding her disappearance only seemed to create more questions. Every clue offered a possible explanation, but none could account for everything that happened that afternoon.

More than six decades later, Joan Risch remains missing—and the mystery of what happened to her continues to haunt the quiet Massachusetts neighborhood where she was last seen.

If you have any information about the Joan Risch case, please contact the cold case unit of Middlesex County, led by the Massachusetts State Police, at (781) 897-6600.

Episode sources and photos: ⁠https://murdershetold.com/episodes/joan-risch⁠-2

Read ⁠A Kitchen Painted in Blood⁠ by Stephen Ahern

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1961 - Lincoln, Massachusetts.

On the afternoon of October 24, 1961, a quiet suburban neighborhood in Lincoln, Massachusetts became the setting for one of New England's most haunting mysteries.

When neighbors realized something was wrong at the home of 31-year-old Joan Risch, they stumbled on a scene that has puzzled investigators for more than six decades.

Bloodstains marked the kitchen floor, with smears suggesting someone had tried to wipe them away. Joan's 2-year-old son was found crying upstairs, while her young daughter wandered outside looking for help. But Joan herself was gone.

For investigators, the evidence painted an unsettling picture—but not a clear one. As witness accounts emerged and detectives began piecing together the day's events, each new clue seemed to raise more questions than answers. More than six decades later, one question still remains: What happened to Joan Risch?

If you have any information about the Joan Risch case, please contact the cold case unit of Middlesex County, led by the Massachusetts State Police, at (781) 897-6600.

Episode sources and photos: https://murdershetold.com/episodes/joan-risch

Read A Kitchen Painted in Blood by Stephen Ahern

Support the show: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠⁠

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Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠/mstpodcast⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠murdershetold.com⁠

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1993 - Kittery, Maine.

On a cold night in January 1993, an intruder broke into the home of 73-year-old Maxine Bitomski, killing the beloved widow in the quiet coastal town of Kittery, Maine. The following day, Maxine's grandson stopped by for a visit and made the heartbreaking discovery: she had been murdered.

For decades, investigators revealed very little about the case, leaving the community to wonder why anyone would target the elderly woman.

But behind the scenes, police say they had a suspect from the very beginning.

In June 2026, Maine State Police arrested 59-year-old Daniel Jolly of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Jolly was 25 years old at the time of the killing and supplied oxygen equipment to Maxine through his job.

Now, after more than three decades of unanswered questions, the case has entered a new chapter. For the first time, investigators have revealed key details about the evidence—and why they believe Daniel Jolly is responsible for Maxine Bitomski's murder.

The work is not done: If you have any information on the murder of Maxine Bitomski, now is the time to come forward. Please contact the Maine State Police at (207) 624-7076 x9.

Episode sources and photos: ⁠⁠https://murdershetold.com/episodes/maxine-bitomski

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1989 - Worcester, Massachusetts.

June 5, 1989, was supposed to be a day of celebration for 17-year-old Nereida “Nettie” Melendez. The responsible and ambitious teenager was set to graduate from high school and begin the next chapter of her life. But when Nettie failed to appear at her graduation ceremony, her family immediately knew something was wrong. Their worst fears were realized the following day when Nettie’s body was found during a family-led search.

Decades later, the mystery surrounding her death remains unsolved. Nettie's brother, Peter Vasquez, and cousin, Doris, join us to talk about the young woman behind the headlines, the lingering questions that continue to haunt their family, and the determination that keeps them searching for justice.

17-year-old Nereida Melendez, who went by Nettie, had a big day ahead of her, and plans for her bright future. June 5th, 1989, was just the beginning: her high school graduation. But when her name was called onstage to get her diploma, Nettie was nowhere to be found. Her family started to panic. Nettie was responsible, and it was highly unlike her to miss such an important event.

Their panic ended in tragedy when her body was recovered after a family search the next day. To this day, her case still remains unsolved.

Nettie’s brother, Peter Vasquez, and her cousin Doris, reflect on Nettie’s life, their frustrations with the slow moving investigation, and what they would say if they were face to face with her killer.

If you have any information on the murder of Nettie Melendez, I encourage you to call the Worcester Police Dept at 508-799-8466, text TIPWPD to CRIMES (274637), or submit an ⁠anonymous tip⁠.

This episode was originally published on 01/03/23.

Episode sources and photos: ⁠https://murdershetold.com/episodes/nettie-melendez⁠

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Website: ⁠murdershetold.com⁠

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2019 - Manchester, NH.

On December 31st, 2021, the Manchester, NH police went to the media with an alarming press release: a little girl named Harmony Montgomery was missing, and she hadn't been seen in 2 years.

In 2024, her father, Adam Montgomery, was convicted of second degree murder for the death of his daughter.

In June of 2026, there was a major update in Adam's conviction. This is what you need to know.

Revisit the Murder, She Told 2-part episode on Harmony Montgomery's disappearance and the trial of Adam Montgomery:


PART 1: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/harmony-montgomery-2


Part 1 on all platforms: https://tinyurl.com/Harmonyep1


PART 2: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/harmony-montgomery-3


Part 2 on all platforms: https://tinyurl.com/Harmonyep2

Learn about "prior bad acts" in the episode on Mark Dugas: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/mark-dugas

If you have any information on the location of Harmony Montgomery’s remains, please call the new Manchester Police tip line at (603) 932-8997.

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Website: ⁠murdershetold.com⁠

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