Buried Bones: "Unusual Suspect"

Hosts: Kate Winkler Dawson (journalist, author) & Paul Holes (retired cold case investigator)
Original Release: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Buried Bones, Kate and Paul dive deep into the 1880 murder of Maria Crew in Groton, Massachusetts—a complex case marked by a brutal crime, questionable eyewitness testimony, racial prejudice, and a likely wrongful conviction. Through their insightful conversation, the hosts use modern forensic understanding to re-examine the investigation, highlighting red flags, missed opportunities, and how bias and circumstantial evidence led to tragedy for multiple lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage—Historical & Personal Context

[06:38] Kate shares a personal artifact—a rare $3 bill from an old family collection, introducing the theme of relics and how history connects to modern investigations.
- "In the 1800s, we didn't really have a federalized banking system...They could print their own currency." — Kate
[09:32] Transition: The story set in 1880s Massachusetts involves a lumber/logging worker, tenuously linked to Kate's artifact tale.
[10:30] Groton is described as a typical, insular farm town with a post-Civil War atmosphere hardening into a "sundown town," unsafe for people of color after dark.
- "By the turn of the century, there was a really strong feeling…anti immigrant, anti black, anti Catholic prejudices…turned this town…into a sundown town." — Kate [11:20]

2. The Crime—Murder at Libby Farm

[12:46-14:12] Maria's husband, Joseph Crew (Teamster, or cart driver), leaves for work, returning to find no lights, doors locked, and his wife murdered inside.
[15:47] Forensic challenges of the time: Paul highlights the near-impossibility of properly searching/processing a crime scene by candle or lantern light.
- “To try to process a crime scene at candlelight...you're just going to miss stuff.” — Paul
[20:12-23:09] Details of the murder:
- Maria is found shot three times in the face/eye area and once in the chest.
- Her body is partially covered, head on a cushion, legs splayed, undergarments torn (possible sexual assault).
- Bullets and casings are recovered; shots were fired at close range (singed eyelashes).
- "She's been shot three times in the face and once in the left chest...the shot to the brain killed her instantly." — Kate [21:16]
[24:59] Blood and body positioning suggest Maria was attacked while sewing, killed in the sitting room, and later dragged to the bedroom.
- Thimble still on finger; clutching fabric—indicates interruption during work.

3. Forensic & Behavioral Analysis

[26:10-28:52] Paul's detailed interpretation of the scene:
- Rigor in her arms suggests Maria remained seated for hours after dying, then was moved.
- The covering and cushion point to "staging" and possible emotional connection by offender.
- "The offender is executing her...tight clustering suggests all three [gunshots] more likely very close range...the cushion under the head tells me something about the offender..." — Paul [23:09, 28:10]
[31:33] Sexual assault possibility is raised but unconfirmed; forensic limitations (microscopic sperm identification; no conclusive timing or evidence).

4. The Investigation—Suspects & Motives

[33:32] Joseph Crew (husband) is initially considered, but has an (partial) alibi—seen working, but with a one-hour gap.
[35:24] Police, lacking clear evidence, focus on a "tramp" (transient) suspect. Paul discusses the recurring bias of blaming "outsiders" when local suspects are ruled out.
- “The go-to for police…when they run out of options in the inner circle—who do we know that's in our area that has a propensity for committing these types of crimes?” — Paul
[36:05-39:26] Witnesses:
- Henry Heughan (neighbor, 21) [37:34]: Claims he saw Maria alive with a strange man (5’7”, "yellowish" face, mustache, beard) around 2:30pm.
- Jenny Carr (neighbor, 16) [43:21]: Claims to have interacted with the strange man at 3pm, who answered Maria's door, said "Maria went into town." She heard noises inside, possibly dragging.
- Paul's skepticism: Given the rigor reported, timelines are tight—bodies don't stiffen that quickly, especially in cold weather [38:57, 41:12].

5. The Arrest—Stearns Kendall Abbott

[49:45] Abbott, a petty criminal and mixed race wood carver, becomes the main suspect after locals identify his picture among "rogues."
He had been in town the day before, had a history of non-violent crime, but nothing linking him to Maria.
- "Just because he has these minor offenses…doesn't mean he's capable of this level of violence." — Paul [50:58]
[53:40-54:52] Abbott is arrested 11 days after the crime, claims an alibi (train trip—unverifiable); convicted solely on the eyewitnesses (mainly Jenny and Henry).
- “Now it’s Abbott's word versus Jenny and Henry...did they recover the gun?...or are they just relying on [the witnesses]?” — Paul

6. Trial & Aftermath—Injustice Unfolds

[55:23-57:30] Prosecution lacks motive, direct evidence, or proof of sexual assault; defense is prevented from presenting alternate suspect or challenging Jenny's credibility; evidence of Joseph’s violent past is suppressed.
[59:24] Jury finds Abbott guilty in two hours; sentenced to hang.

7. Revelations—A Twist in the Case

[60:22-61:18] Post-conviction, rumors surface Jenny was pregnant by Joseph (the husband), making her testimony suspect. Social reformers advocate for Abbott.
Joseph was unaccounted for during the murder for about an hour—within walking distance.
- “…he shoots Maria while she’s at the sewing table. He goes back to work, and then…he’s the one that ‘finds’ her." — Paul [61:42]
Paul's reconstruction: Joseph, not Abbott, is the likely killer—he staged the scene, covered the body, and staged a sexual assault.
[68:36-70:45] Later, purported deathbed confession by Joseph and a mysterious lost confession letter add to the intrigue—but Abbott remains incarcerated for 26 years.

8. Resolution

Abbott is finally pardoned in 1911, at 71, after spending most of his life in prison. The murder is officially unsolved, but the hosts concur: Joseph likely killed his wife, aided by false testimony and a zealous pursuit of the "outsider."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On crime scene lighting:
“To try to process a crime scene at candlelight...you're just going to miss stuff.” — Paul Holes [15:47]
On "tramp"/transient suspects:
"That's just part of investigating a case. You start with the victim…and then when you run out, you go to outsiders…" — Paul Holes [34:25]
On rigor mortis revealing the killer:
"What I want to emphasize is how evaluating what the offender is doing at the crime scene to the victim can be very insightful as to who the offender is." — Paul Holes [71:34]
On wrongful conviction and bias:
"Once the train is put in motion against a suspect, it's very hard to get that train to stop.” — Paul Holes [71:50]
Kate, on the lesson of the case:
"Logging all day long sometimes doesn’t mean logging all day long...sometimes, the spouse’s alibi isn’t what it seems.” — Kate [72:13]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[06:38-09:32] Kate's family relic & intro to the 1880s setting
[10:30-13:00] Groton as a "sundown town"; contextual backdrop
[12:46-15:47] Joseph discovers his murdered wife—scene description
[20:12-23:09] Autopsy & forensics in 1880
[24:59-28:52] Behavioral analysis: moving & covering body
[33:32-35:51] Early suspicion and focus on "outsiders"
[36:05-44:45] Witness statements and timeline issues
[49:45-54:52] Stearns Kendall Abbott profiled, arrested, prosecuted
[57:30-57:59] Problematic trial: lack of motive/evidence
[60:22-63:09] Revelation of Joseph's affair with Jenny (primary witness)
[68:36-71:07] Alleged confession and Abbott's eventual pardon
[71:34-73:15] Final analysis: importance of crime scene interpretation

Conclusion & Reflection

This episode unravels not only a tragic historical murder but a cautionary tale of tunnel vision, racial bias, and unreliable witness testimony leading to a decades-long miscarriage of justice. Through forensic insight and historical research, Kate and Paul lay out a compelling case: Joseph Crew, not the "unusual suspect" Abbott, likely murdered Maria—a truth obscured for more than a century.

For images and further case evidence, follow the show’s Instagram @buriedbonespod.

Buried Bones: "Unusual Suspect"

Hosts: Kate Winkler Dawson (journalist, author) & Paul Holes (retired cold case investigator)
Original Release: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage—Historical & Personal Context

[06:38] Kate shares a personal artifact—a rare $3 bill from an old family collection, introducing the theme of relics and how history connects to modern investigations.
- "In the 1800s, we didn't really have a federalized banking system...They could print their own currency." — Kate
[09:32] Transition: The story set in 1880s Massachusetts involves a lumber/logging worker, tenuously linked to Kate's artifact tale.
[10:30] Groton is described as a typical, insular farm town with a post-Civil War atmosphere hardening into a "sundown town," unsafe for people of color after dark.
- "By the turn of the century, there was a really strong feeling…anti immigrant, anti black, anti Catholic prejudices…turned this town…into a sundown town." — Kate [11:20]

2. The Crime—Murder at Libby Farm

[12:46-14:12] Maria's husband, Joseph Crew (Teamster, or cart driver), leaves for work, returning to find no lights, doors locked, and his wife murdered inside.
[15:47] Forensic challenges of the time: Paul highlights the near-impossibility of properly searching/processing a crime scene by candle or lantern light.
- “To try to process a crime scene at candlelight...you're just going to miss stuff.” — Paul
[20:12-23:09] Details of the murder:
- Maria is found shot three times in the face/eye area and once in the chest.
- Her body is partially covered, head on a cushion, legs splayed, undergarments torn (possible sexual assault).
- Bullets and casings are recovered; shots were fired at close range (singed eyelashes).
- "She's been shot three times in the face and once in the left chest...the shot to the brain killed her instantly." — Kate [21:16]
[24:59] Blood and body positioning suggest Maria was attacked while sewing, killed in the sitting room, and later dragged to the bedroom.
- Thimble still on finger; clutching fabric—indicates interruption during work.

3. Forensic & Behavioral Analysis

[26:10-28:52] Paul's detailed interpretation of the scene:
- Rigor in her arms suggests Maria remained seated for hours after dying, then was moved.
- The covering and cushion point to "staging" and possible emotional connection by offender.
- "The offender is executing her...tight clustering suggests all three [gunshots] more likely very close range...the cushion under the head tells me something about the offender..." — Paul [23:09, 28:10]
[31:33] Sexual assault possibility is raised but unconfirmed; forensic limitations (microscopic sperm identification; no conclusive timing or evidence).

4. The Investigation—Suspects & Motives

[33:32] Joseph Crew (husband) is initially considered, but has an (partial) alibi—seen working, but with a one-hour gap.
[35:24] Police, lacking clear evidence, focus on a "tramp" (transient) suspect. Paul discusses the recurring bias of blaming "outsiders" when local suspects are ruled out.
- “The go-to for police…when they run out of options in the inner circle—who do we know that's in our area that has a propensity for committing these types of crimes?” — Paul
[36:05-39:26] Witnesses:
- Henry Heughan (neighbor, 21) [37:34]: Claims he saw Maria alive with a strange man (5’7”, "yellowish" face, mustache, beard) around 2:30pm.
- Jenny Carr (neighbor, 16) [43:21]: Claims to have interacted with the strange man at 3pm, who answered Maria's door, said "Maria went into town." She heard noises inside, possibly dragging.
- Paul's skepticism: Given the rigor reported, timelines are tight—bodies don't stiffen that quickly, especially in cold weather [38:57, 41:12].

5. The Arrest—Stearns Kendall Abbott

[49:45] Abbott, a petty criminal and mixed race wood carver, becomes the main suspect after locals identify his picture among "rogues."
He had been in town the day before, had a history of non-violent crime, but nothing linking him to Maria.
- "Just because he has these minor offenses…doesn't mean he's capable of this level of violence." — Paul [50:58]
[53:40-54:52] Abbott is arrested 11 days after the crime, claims an alibi (train trip—unverifiable); convicted solely on the eyewitnesses (mainly Jenny and Henry).
- “Now it’s Abbott's word versus Jenny and Henry...did they recover the gun?...or are they just relying on [the witnesses]?” — Paul

6. Trial & Aftermath—Injustice Unfolds

[55:23-57:30] Prosecution lacks motive, direct evidence, or proof of sexual assault; defense is prevented from presenting alternate suspect or challenging Jenny's credibility; evidence of Joseph’s violent past is suppressed.
[59:24] Jury finds Abbott guilty in two hours; sentenced to hang.

7. Revelations—A Twist in the Case

[60:22-61:18] Post-conviction, rumors surface Jenny was pregnant by Joseph (the husband), making her testimony suspect. Social reformers advocate for Abbott.
Joseph was unaccounted for during the murder for about an hour—within walking distance.
- “…he shoots Maria while she’s at the sewing table. He goes back to work, and then…he’s the one that ‘finds’ her." — Paul [61:42]
Paul's reconstruction: Joseph, not Abbott, is the likely killer—he staged the scene, covered the body, and staged a sexual assault.
[68:36-70:45] Later, purported deathbed confession by Joseph and a mysterious lost confession letter add to the intrigue—but Abbott remains incarcerated for 26 years.

8. Resolution

Abbott is finally pardoned in 1911, at 71, after spending most of his life in prison. The murder is officially unsolved, but the hosts concur: Joseph likely killed his wife, aided by false testimony and a zealous pursuit of the "outsider."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On crime scene lighting:
“To try to process a crime scene at candlelight...you're just going to miss stuff.” — Paul Holes [15:47]
On "tramp"/transient suspects:
"That's just part of investigating a case. You start with the victim…and then when you run out, you go to outsiders…" — Paul Holes [34:25]
On rigor mortis revealing the killer:
"What I want to emphasize is how evaluating what the offender is doing at the crime scene to the victim can be very insightful as to who the offender is." — Paul Holes [71:34]
On wrongful conviction and bias:
"Once the train is put in motion against a suspect, it's very hard to get that train to stop.” — Paul Holes [71:50]
Kate, on the lesson of the case:
"Logging all day long sometimes doesn’t mean logging all day long...sometimes, the spouse’s alibi isn’t what it seems.” — Kate [72:13]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[06:38-09:32] Kate's family relic & intro to the 1880s setting
[10:30-13:00] Groton as a "sundown town"; contextual backdrop
[12:46-15:47] Joseph discovers his murdered wife—scene description
[20:12-23:09] Autopsy & forensics in 1880
[24:59-28:52] Behavioral analysis: moving & covering body
[33:32-35:51] Early suspicion and focus on "outsiders"
[36:05-44:45] Witness statements and timeline issues
[49:45-54:52] Stearns Kendall Abbott profiled, arrested, prosecuted
[57:30-57:59] Problematic trial: lack of motive/evidence
[60:22-63:09] Revelation of Joseph's affair with Jenny (primary witness)
[68:36-71:07] Alleged confession and Abbott's eventual pardon
[71:34-73:15] Final analysis: importance of crime scene interpretation

Conclusion & Reflection

For images and further case evidence, follow the show’s Instagram @buriedbonespod.

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Unusual Suspect

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Summary

Buried Bones: "Unusual Suspect"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage—Historical & Personal Context

2. The Crime—Murder at Libby Farm

3. Forensic & Behavioral Analysis

4. The Investigation—Suspects & Motives

5. The Arrest—Stearns Kendall Abbott

6. Trial & Aftermath—Injustice Unfolds

7. Revelations—A Twist in the Case

8. Resolution

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Conclusion & Reflection

Summary

Buried Bones: "Unusual Suspect"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage—Historical & Personal Context

2. The Crime—Murder at Libby Farm

3. Forensic & Behavioral Analysis

4. The Investigation—Suspects & Motives

5. The Arrest—Stearns Kendall Abbott

6. Trial & Aftermath—Injustice Unfolds

7. Revelations—A Twist in the Case

8. Resolution

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Conclusion & Reflection