Case 237
Rena & Danny Paquette
*** Content Warning: sexual assault, child victims, suicide, domestic violence ***
In February 1960, the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, was rocked by the violent murder of teenager Sandra Valade. Three years later, another teenager, Pamela Mason, was killed in the same manner. A quiet housewife named Rena Paquette confided to police that she knew who murdered the two teens. Just days after coming forward, she was found dead under mysterious circumstances by her son, Danny Paquette.
When Danny is targeted decades later, members of the Paquette family believe the same perpetrator to be responsible. But when they receive two anonymous letters, the case takes a completely different turn.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Jessica Forsayeth
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
BOOK
Our Little Secret: The true story of a teenage killer and the silence of a small New England town – Kevin Flynn and Rebecca Lavoie
AUDIO/VIDEO
NEWS ARTICLES
Cops probe Manchester missing girl – Nashua Telegraph
Missing Manchester girl is feared slain – Valley News
Telegraph staffer visits scene of hunt for girl, 19 – Nashua Telegraph
Full resources of state hunt slayer – Nashua Telegraph
Final rites held for slain woman – Nashua Telegraph
Wyman sure state will catch Sandra’s slayer – Valley News
Slain girl’s mother gets phone threat – Nashua Telegraph
Sandra Valade mystery may be ended in confession here – Concord Monitor
Investigators discount tale of Valade killing – Valley News
Babysitter, 14, missing 2 days in Manchester – Valley News
Testimony of mother continues – Nashua Telegraph
Pam Mason’s last phone call is described to jurists by mother – Manchester UPI
Milford man testifies he found girl’s body – Manchester AP
Pamela may have gone in auto of man calling for baby sitter – Manchester UPI
Manchester girl still object of wild police hunt – Manchester AP
All-out hunt under way for vicious killer – Manchester AP
Snow yields Pamela clues – Manchester AP
Manchester police reveal no new lead in Pamela case – Manchester AP
Cross examination of doctor in Coolidge trial continues today – Manchester UPI
Manchester woman’s death ruled as suicide by cremation – Manchester AP
Family refuses to accept ruling of fiery suicide – Manchester AP
Police testify Coolidge changed story 5 times to provide alibi – Manchester UPI
Ballistics expert says Coolidge gun, murder slugs perfect match – Manchester UPI
Circumstantial evidence builds in Coolidge trial – Manchester UPI
Coolidge flatly denies murder of Pamela Mason – Manchester AP
Coolidge gets life; defense plans appeal – Manchester UPI
Police saying little about investigations – Concord Monitor
Hooksett shooting a mystery – Concord Monitor
Murder of accident? – Concord Monitor
Family: 1964 death was murder, not suicide – Associated Press
Autopsy rules out woman’s suicide – Concord Monitor
Windhurst sentenced to 15 to 36 years – Concord Monitor
Man who killed friend’s stepfather in 1985 released on parole – Concord Monitor
Recalling life in prison system – Valley News
N.H. parole board votes to release killer in 1984 – The Boston Globe
Father of slain N.H. girl says 21,000 oppose killer’s parole – The Boston Globe
Two deaths haunt a N.H. family – The Boston Globe
Windhurst asks for forgiveness – New Hampshire Union Leader
Suicide ruled out in Paquette death – New Hampshire Union Leader