Man Accused of 1988 Murder Is Acquitted

A former Massachusetts corrections officer has been acquitted in the 1988 murder of 11-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay, leaving the case unsolved after 35 years.

At a Glance

Marvin “Skip” McClendon Jr. found not guilty in 1988 murder of Melissa Ann Tremblay.
Tremblay’s body was discovered in a Lawrence, Massachusetts rail yard after going missing.
DNA evidence linked McClendon to a group of related people, but was deemed inconclusive.
The jury acquitted McClendon after a second trial, following a deadlocked first trial.
Case remains unsolved, with Tremblay’s family still seeking closure.

The Verdict and Its Implications

Marvin “Skip” McClendon Jr., a former Massachusetts corrections officer, has been found not guilty in the 1988 murder of 11-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay. The verdict, delivered after days of deliberation in a retrial, has left the decades-old case unsolved and Tremblay’s family without closure. McClendon, who had been held for 2 1/2 years before his acquittal, is now free to return to Alabama, where he had been living since 2002.

The case, which had remained cold for over three decades, seemed to have reached a breakthrough when McClendon was arrested in Alabama in April 2022 and charged with first-degree murder. However, the prosecution’s efforts to secure a conviction have ultimately proven unsuccessful, leaving many questions unanswered about the tragic events of September 11, 1988.

JUST IN: Jurors have returned a not guilty verdict in Marvin McClendon's retrial. He was charged in connection with the 1988 killing of Melissa Ann Tremblay in Lawrence, Mass. https://t.co/p5Ml5lMfDg pic.twitter.com/joZbP1xZH2

— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) November 5, 2024

The Crime and Investigation

Melissa Ann Tremblay was last seen with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend at a social club in Lawrence, Massachusetts, before her disappearance. Her body was discovered the next day in the old Boston and Maine Railway Yard, having been fatally stabbed. The brutal nature of the crime shocked the community and left a lasting impact on those who knew Tremblay.

“While he was found not guilty in a court of law, he will ultimately pay for his crime on the final Judgement Day before God. I have sat through two trials now and heard all the evidence and have formed my opinion of what transpired on September 11, 1988,” stated Tremblay’s cousin Daneille Root on the family’s behalf.

The investigation into Tremblay’s murder spanned decades, with McClendon becoming a longtime person of interest. DNA evidence found under Tremblay’s fingernails played a crucial role in the trial, with the prosecution claiming it excluded 99.8% of the male population. However, the defense argued that there was no definitive proof the DNA belonged to McClendon and suggested that the stabber was right-handed, unlike their client.

The Trial and Acquittal

McClendon’s path to acquittal was not straightforward. The jury in his first trial deadlocked, necessitating a second trial. Throughout the legal proceedings, the prosecution presented evidence linking McClendon to the crime, including his employment history and proximity to the area at the time of the murder. McClendon had worked in carpentry when Tremblay was killed and had been employed by the Department of Corrections intermittently from 1970 to 2002.

Despite the prosecution’s efforts, the defense successfully argued that the evidence against McClendon was inconclusive. They pointed out that McClendon had no significant ties to Lawrence, living 16 miles away in Chelmsford before moving to Alabama. The jury ultimately found the evidence insufficient to convict McClendon beyond a reasonable doubt.

“We appreciate the jury’s careful and thoughtful deliberations. We are grateful that Mr. McClendon was acquitted,” defense attorney Henry Fasoldt said.

Aftermath and Desire for Justice

The acquittal has left Tremblay’s family devastated and still searching for answers. Daneille Root, Tremblay’s cousin, expressed her firm belief in McClendon’s guilt despite the court’s decision. The family’s disappointment reflects the emotional toll that unsolved cases take on victims’ loved ones, who often pin their hopes for closure on legal proceedings.

“I recognize the work and dedication of the jury during their long deliberations in this case,” Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said. “My thoughts are with the family of Melissa Ann Tremblay, who have suffered greatly due to the crime that took her life.”

Tucker acknowledged the extraordinary efforts of the prosecution and law enforcement in this case. While expressing disappointment with the verdict, Tucker emphasized the dedication of those involved in seeking justice for Melissa Ann Tremblay. The case now returns to the ranks of unsolved murders, leaving investigators to ponder what new evidence or leads might one day bring closure to this tragic chapter in Massachusetts history.