Deanna Cremin
Encyclopedia
Deanna J. Cremin was a 17-year-old American
murder victim from Somerville, Massachusetts
.
Deanna Cremin was found behind a senior housing complex four days after her seventeenth birthday. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled, and her murder remains unsolved.
. She did volunteer work at Somerville Cable Access Television, worked with third graders at the Child Development Program at her school, and worked at Star Market
.
Cremin's body was found at 8 a.m. on March 30, behind a senior housing
complex, less than a block from her home. She was found by two children she babysat
for, taking a shortcut on their way to school. Her body was lying on its back, and mostly undressed. She had been strangled.
Police identified three men as persons of interest in the crime: Cremin's teenage boyfriend; a Somerville firefighter more than twice Cremin's age, said to have been fixated on her; and a third adult man, later imprisoned at Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Cedar Junction
. But no charges were pressed. In 2005, Middlesex
district attorney
Martha Coakley
announced new forensic evidence had been found with procedures unavailable in 1995, raising hope of progress in the case, but again no charges were pressed.
In 2009, current Middlesex district attorney Gerry Leone stated that the murder would be solved, but law enforcement needed witnesses who had remained silent to come forward. The Cremin family erects a billboard each year since her death, to offer a reward for information about the killer. At the bottom of the billboard, a quote reads: "You know what you did to me. How much longer must I wait! Please help make my time in heaven restful." The reward has grown from $10,000 in 1995 to $20,000 by 2005.
A thousand mourners attended Cremin's funeral at St. Polycarp's church, including a procession with 150 vehicles.
Trees and benches around the city have been dedicated to Deanna Cremin. The Deanna Cremin Reward Scholarship is a $500 annual award given to one recipient currently attending the Child Development Program at Somerville High School.
In the summer of 1995, Deanna Cremin Square was dedicated to her. The idea was proposed by a friend, Danielle Shute. The square is located on the corner of Jaques Street and Temple Street, Cremin's neighborhood.42.394343°N 71.092041°W It is also located near St. Polycarp's Church, where her funeral was held. The family places a new wreath on it every year.
A friend of Deanna's published a poem titled "Waiting For Your Return" in Teen Ink
magazine. Willie Alexander
, former member of The Velvet Underground
, wrote a song about her death titled "Who Killed Deanna", which appeared on his albums The East Main Street Suite (1999), and The Dog Bar Yacht Club (2005).
Years later, the case has not been forgotten. On October 1, 2006, hundreds of people wearing shirts reading "Justice for Deanna" marched through her old neighborhood seeking action on the case. The case has been repeatedly featured on WFXT
television "New England's Unsolved", through 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
murder victim from Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
.
Deanna Cremin was found behind a senior housing complex four days after her seventeenth birthday. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled, and her murder remains unsolved.
Biography
Cremin was a student of Somerville High SchoolSomerville High School (Massachusetts)
Somerville High School is a public, 4-year high school in Somerville, Massachusetts. The school offers a wide selection of classes and vocational programs....
. She did volunteer work at Somerville Cable Access Television, worked with third graders at the Child Development Program at her school, and worked at Star Market
Star Market
Star Market was a New England chain of supermarkets owned by the Mugar family and based in Greater Boston. The company was sold to The Jewel Companies, Inc. in 1964, and was later sold to Investcorp, which sold the chain to Shaw's Supermarkets...
.
Murder
On March 29, 1995, Deanna Cremin followed her usual Wednesday routine of going out with friends and visiting her boyfriend. Her curfew was 10 pm; when she was not home by midnight, her mother tried unsuccessfully to reach her on her pager. Her boyfriend, considered the last person to see Cremin alive, admits walking her home that night, but says he left her halfway, as he often had during their year long courtship.Cremin's body was found at 8 a.m. on March 30, behind a senior housing
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
complex, less than a block from her home. She was found by two children she babysat
Babysitting
Babysitting is the practice of temporarily caring for a child on behalf of the child's parents. Babysitting is commonly performed as an odd job by teenagers for extra money.-General:...
for, taking a shortcut on their way to school. Her body was lying on its back, and mostly undressed. She had been strangled.
Investigation
Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Cedar Junction
The Massachusetts Correctional Institution—Cedar Junction , formerly known as MCI-Walpole, is a maximum security prison with an average daily population of approximately 800 adult male inmates under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Correction. It was opened in 1956 to replace...
. But no charges were pressed. In 2005, Middlesex
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
Martha Coakley
Martha Coakley
Martha Mary Coakley is the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Prior to serving as Attorney General, she was District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2007....
announced new forensic evidence had been found with procedures unavailable in 1995, raising hope of progress in the case, but again no charges were pressed.
In 2009, current Middlesex district attorney Gerry Leone stated that the murder would be solved, but law enforcement needed witnesses who had remained silent to come forward. The Cremin family erects a billboard each year since her death, to offer a reward for information about the killer. At the bottom of the billboard, a quote reads: "You know what you did to me. How much longer must I wait! Please help make my time in heaven restful." The reward has grown from $10,000 in 1995 to $20,000 by 2005.
Aftermath
Trees and benches around the city have been dedicated to Deanna Cremin. The Deanna Cremin Reward Scholarship is a $500 annual award given to one recipient currently attending the Child Development Program at Somerville High School.
In the summer of 1995, Deanna Cremin Square was dedicated to her. The idea was proposed by a friend, Danielle Shute. The square is located on the corner of Jaques Street and Temple Street, Cremin's neighborhood.42.394343°N 71.092041°W It is also located near St. Polycarp's Church, where her funeral was held. The family places a new wreath on it every year.
A friend of Deanna's published a poem titled "Waiting For Your Return" in Teen Ink
Teen Ink
Teen Ink is a monthly tabloid-format magazine which is marketed to, and written by, teenagers. It is based in Newton, Massachusetts, and published by the Young Authors Foundation, a non-profit organization. The magazine's name was originally The 21st Century. The magazine was founded by John and...
magazine. Willie Alexander
Willie Alexander
For the football player of the same name see Willie Alexander .Willie "Loco" Alexander is an American singer and keyboard player based in Gloucester, Massachusetts....
, former member of The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, wrote a song about her death titled "Who Killed Deanna", which appeared on his albums The East Main Street Suite (1999), and The Dog Bar Yacht Club (2005).
Years later, the case has not been forgotten. On October 1, 2006, hundreds of people wearing shirts reading "Justice for Deanna" marched through her old neighborhood seeking action on the case. The case has been repeatedly featured on WFXT
WFXT
WFXT is a television station owned and operated by the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Boston, Massachusetts. The station's studio and office facility is in Dedham, Massachusetts, and its transmitter is located in Needham, Massachusetts...
television "New England's Unsolved", through 2009.
External links
- Official website
- Unsolved Mysteries.com Entry written by Katherine Cremin, mother of Deanna - March 6, 2006
- Justice For Deanna MySpace
- Deanna Memorial site Created by Stacey Wallace, cousin of Deanna
- Deanna Cremin Memorial Foundation @ GrfxDziner.com • Fall 2007