1969

Michelle Wilson, aged 13, is murdered in Boxford, MA, near Baldpate Pond. Charles Pierce, a child murderer and necrophiliac, is convicted of her murder. Pierce reportedly claims to know Wayne W. Chapman, a main suspect in Andy Puglisi’s abduction.

1970s (General)

Witness X claims to have been abused as a child by neighbor Peter Haskell in Georgetown, MA. He allegedly witnessed Haskell murder a young boy and described traumatic memories of the incident.

1973

St. Mary’s Victim recounts sexual abuse by Father Gallagher in fifth grade, describing normalized public abuse at school.

Janice Pockett, aged 7, vanishes in Tolland, CT. Her case remains unsolved and is possibly linked to other missing children in the area.

1976

August 22: Andy Puglisi, Melanie McLaughlin’s childhood friend, disappears from Lawrence, MA, leading to Melanie’s lifelong investigation into his case.

2007

June 12: Melanie’s documentary Have You Seen Andy? airs on HBO, spotlighting Andy Puglisi’s case.

July: Witness X reaches out to Melanie after watching the documentary, detailing his alleged experience witnessing Peter Haskell’s murder of a child. He provides information to Georgetown Police Detective Thomas Dejoy.

December 26: Melanie’s daughter Grace is born with Down syndrome and a heart condition, impacting Melanie’s professional advocacy temporarily.

2008

Witness X contacts Melanie again, seeking assistance connecting with Connecticut police. He continues pursuing information about Haskell’s alleged crimes but is met with skepticism.

2009

December 1: The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office declines to investigate Witness X’s allegations against Peter Haskell, citing lack of resources.

A National Center for Missing and Exploited Children case manager contacts Melanie regarding Witness X’s claims, which the FBI had referred to the Center.

2016

November 16: Peter Haskell dies, prompting a police investigation at his Georgetown, MA home.

December: The Boston FBI, upon local law enforcement discovering unsettling items, conducts a search and dig of Haskell’s property but publicly reveals few details.

2017

Father Paul Shanley, a notorious Boston priest, is released after serving 12 years for child abuse, having denied dissociative amnesia as “junk science.” He dies in 2020.

2019

An FBI Evidence Response Team member informs Melanie of gaps in the investigation and lack of critical evidence (Witness X’s map) in the Haskell case.

Dr. AnnMarie Mires and Melanie revisit the Baldpate Pond area with FBI agents, attempting to verify Witness X’s claims, but resources are ultimately denied for further investigation.

1. Melanie Perkins McLaughlinRole: Host of Open Investigation, documentary filmmaker, and child advocate.
   Background: Investigating the disappearance of her childhood friend, Andy Puglisi, and the broader network of child abuse and trafficking surrounding it. She created Have You Seen Andy?, a documentary on Andy’s case.
2. Andy PuglisiRole: Melanie’s childhood friend, missing since 1976.
   Background: Andy’s disappearance remains unsolved and is the catalyst for Melanie’s investigation into child trafficking and abuse within her community.
3. St. Mary’s VictimRole: Survivor of clergy abuse.
   Background: Describes abuse by Father Gallagher in a normalized and public setting during her childhood, recounting the systemic trauma experienced by her and other classmates.
4. Witness XRole: Witness and survivor of childhood abuse.
   Background: Claims to have seen a murder committed by his alleged abuser, Peter Haskell, in the 1970s. His testimony, initially dismissed, resurfaced after Haskell’s death and led to a new investigation.
5. Peter HaskellRole: Alleged child abuser and suspected murderer.
   Background: Accused by Witness X of murder and abuse, Haskell was posthumously investigated after child mannequins, bones, and other evidence were found in his home.
6. Dr. Judith HermanRole: Trauma expert and Professor of Psychiatry.
   Background: A pioneer in trauma studies, Herman provides insights into dissociative amnesia and the effects of trauma on memory. She authored Trauma and Recovery and Truth and Repair.
7. Detective Thomas DejoyRole: Georgetown Police Detective.
   Background: Interviewed Witness X about the alleged murder by Peter Haskell, contributing to the reopened investigation.
8. Charles PierceRole: Convicted child murderer.
   Background: Suspected of multiple murders and necrophilia, Pierce was connected to both Andy Puglisi’s disappearance and other child murders, including a possible link to Peter Haskell.
9. Wayne W. ChapmanRole: Main suspect in Andy Puglisi’s abduction.
   Background: Chapman is a convicted pedophile with a long history of child abuse and connections to other suspects in child disappearance cases.
10. Dr. AnnMarie MiresRole: Forensic anthropologist and archaeologist.
    Background: Consulted with law enforcement on “ground truthing” strategies related to Witness X’s claims about child graves near Baldpate Pond.
11. James KaterRole: Convicted child murderer.
    Background: Kidnapped and murdered Mary Lou Arruda, a 15-year-old girl, and attempted to murder a 13-year-old girl, linking him to the area Witness X identified as a burial site.
12. Janice PockettRole: Missing child from Connecticut.
    Background: Disappeared in 1973, suspected to be linked to the Lawrence area cases through Charles Pierce’s deathbed confession.
13. Father John GallagherRole: Priest and alleged abuser.
    Background: Accused of abusing multiple children publicly and reportedly involved in systemic abuse alongside other clergy.
14. Father Paul ShanleyRole: Notorious street priest and convicted abuser.
    Background: Known for trafficking and abusing runaway boys and foster children. His conviction of rape of a six-year old child supported the recognition of dissociative amnesia as valid evidence.