The Disappearance of Katrina McVeigh (Rhode Island)

Summary

The Disappearance of Katrina McVeigh (Rhode Island)

Podcast: Dark Downeast
Host: Kylie Lowe
Release Date: February 27, 2025

Introduction to Katrina McVeigh's Disappearance

In the poignant episode titled "The Disappearance of Katrina McVeigh," investigative journalist Kylie Lowe delves into the unresolved case of Katrina McVeigh, a 27-year-old woman from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, who vanished in June 1992. More than three decades later, the mystery surrounding her disappearance remains unsolved, leaving her family desperate for answers and justice.

Family Background and Personal History

Katrina McVeigh was last seen preparing to attend her brother Todd Tebow's wedding. According to Todd, “The last time Katrina McVeigh's loved ones heard from her, she was making plans to attend a family wedding. But when the big day rolled around, Katrina was a no show” (03:33). At 16 years old, Todd shared a close-knit relationship with Katrina, highlighting their bond: “You didn't mess with little bro and you didn't mess with big sis. You know, it's just one of those things. We're two peas in a pod, but completely different” (05:42).

Personal Struggles and Domestic Issues

Katrina's life was marked by personal struggles, including a tumultuous marriage to Richard McVeigh. Her marriage was fraught with abuse; Richard was documented in police logs for domestic assault in April 1988 and again charged in September 1991 (06:11). Todd recounted witnessing an incident of physical abuse: “She had got thrown out of the shelter because he showed up drunk one day, making threats and what have you. And they were like, ‘You can't stay here’” (07:43). Following her separation from Richard in 1988, Katrina faced significant challenges, leading to the custody of her children being placed with their grandmother.

The Night of Disappearance

Katrina's final known whereabouts were with Judy Burton, a friend who provided her temporary housing. On the night of May 14th, Katrina and Judy left Ollie's Pizza Parlor when a white man in an older car approached them. Judy recounted, “Katrina got in [the car] from there. Judy wasn't sure where Katrina went, but she never came back to the apartment that night or since” (08:26). This enigmatic encounter set the stage for Katrina's disappearance.

Initial Investigation and Police Involvement

After Katrina failed to appear at the wedding, her mother, Charlotte, filed a missing persons report. The police investigation quickly identified Richard McVeigh as a potential suspect due to his abusive history and proximity to Katrina at the time of her disappearance. However, Richard denied any involvement, claiming, “I didn't call her. I feel that Charlotte just didn't like me” (17:49). Despite the suspicions, no concrete evidence emerged linking Richard directly to Katrina's disappearance.

Todd Tebow’s Search Efforts

Driven by a mix of anger and determination, Todd embarked on a personal quest to find his sister. He spent a summer walking along the Blackstone River, believing the anonymous call his mother received—“Tell Todd he can find his sister by the riverbank” (04:49)—was a clue. Todd shared, “I was with a vengeance at that point... my goal was to find her” (15:58). During his search, he discovered items he believed belonged to Katrina, including a white turtleneck, which he reported to the authorities (17:10). This discovery, however, did not yield any new leads, leaving Todd frustrated: “What happened to those things? I don't know” (17:43).

The Cold Case and Renewed Investigations

Katrina's case went cold for many years until 2009, when Woonsocket police reexamined it alongside another unsolved case. Captain Edward Lee expressed hope that modern investigative techniques might uncover new evidence, but unfortunately, nothing substantial was found (26:30). Additionally, Todd noted discrepancies in the handling of his findings: “They asked me if I knew if they picked it up because there was nothing cataloged in the evidence locker” (27:48), suggesting potential lapses in the investigation.

Ongoing Hope and Theories

Despite the passage of time, Todd remains steadfast in his search for Katrina. He maintains that her disappearance may be linked to her involvement with drug-related activities and possible cooperation as a confidential informant, though this remains unverified. Todd reflects, “We don't think he did it” (21:13), indicating his belief that Richard may not be responsible. Instead, he suspects connections to drug raids and the environment Katrina was entangled in: “I think it has something to do with that drug raid, to be honest with you” (32:33).

Memorials and Continued Search

In honor of his sister, Todd has created personal memorials, including planting carnations—Katrina’s favorite flowers—and throwing them near the river where he once searched for her. “We take the carnations we throw them off the bridge, it being a river because we don't have any answers and throw them off the bridge near the park that I believe I found her clothes” (33:48). These acts serve as a testament to his enduring hope and love, even as he faces the grim reality that the case may never be resolved.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Katrina McVeigh's disappearance remains one of Rhode Island's enduring mysteries. Despite renewed investigations and Todd's persistent efforts, her fate is still unknown. The episode concludes with a heartfelt plea for anyone with information to come forward: “If you have information relating to the case of Katrina McVeigh and could help bring her home, please contact the Woonsocket Police Department at 401-766-1212” (35:37).

Kylie Lowe's meticulous storytelling not only highlights the complexities of Katrina's case but also honors the relentless pursuit of truth by her family. "Dark Downeast" serves as a crucial platform, ensuring that Katrina McVeigh's story remains in the public consciousness, advocating for closure and justice after all these years.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Todd Tebow (03:43): “Originally. Everybody was pretty ticked off thinking, you know, she went and did something. That's not the first thing she had missed, you know.”

• Todd Tebow (15:58): “I was with a vengeance at that point. For what? I don't know from who, I don't know. But my goal was to find her.”

• Todd Tebow (21:13): “We don't think he did it.”

• Todd Tebow (32:33): “I think it has something to do with that drug raid, to be honest with you.”

Additional Information

For more details and to contribute information to the case, listeners are encouraged to visit darkdowneast.com or follow the podcast on Instagram at @darkdowneast.

Transcript

[Kylie Lowe]

Hey, Darkdown Easters, if you're like me, you know how important it is to see justice served, no matter how long it takes. That's why I need to tell you about an incredible update to a case you may be familiar with in the latest season of counterclock. Delia D'Ambra's investigation into the murder of Nathaniel Jones and the five teenagers convicted of the crime left us with huge questions about what really happened. But now this case is back in court. Decisions that could reshape the future for these men are being made right now. In an all new bonus episode of Counterclock, Delia dives into the recent evidentiary hearing, breaks down the results and reveals new leads she's uncovered. You'll even hear from people who for the first time are speaking out. After listening to her season, don't miss this pivotal update. Listen to Counterclock now. Wherever you get your podcasts, Dark down east is proudly sponsored by Amica Insurance. The unexpected can happen at any moment, and Amica knows how important it is to be prepared. Whether it's auto, home or life insurance, Amica has you covered. Their dedicated and knowledgeable representatives will work with you to make sure you have the right coverage in place to protect what matters most. You can feel confident that Amica is there for you. Visit amica.com to get started.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Don't miss the Hulu original docu series Devil in the Family the Fall of Ruby Frankie. My wife created a YouTube channel.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Thumbs up.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Subscribe, but only what we wanted to show.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

I'm still recording a three part series of that. She said the children were demonically possessed.

[Kylie Lowe]

Get out.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

That blew the powder keg.

[Kylie Lowe]

Ruby crossed a line to psychotic. All right, I'm on emergency. Open the door.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Hulu Devil in the Family the Fall of Ruby Frankie. All episodes now streaming on Hulu Focus Features presents Black Bag. Starring Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender and directed by Steven Soderbergh.

[Kylie Lowe]

I can feel when you're watching me.

[Todd Tebow]

I like it.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

It's the perfect marriage of love and deception.

[Todd Tebow]

I watch her.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

I assume she watches me.

[Kylie Lowe]

There's a traitor in the house. Find the leak.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Black Bag is the most anticipated espionage thriller of the year.

[Kylie Lowe]

Who's the suspect?

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Your wife.

[Kylie Lowe]

Would you kill for me?

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Black bag. Rated R. Under 17 nanometer without parent. Only in theaters March 14 with special engagements in Dolby.

[Kylie Lowe]

The last time Katrina McVeigh's loved ones heard from her, she was making plans to attend a family wedding. But when the big day rolled around, Katrina was a no show. Now, more than three decades later, Katrina's disappearance remains unsolved and the theories about what really happened still linger. I'm Kylie Lowe and and this is the case of Katrina McVeigh on dark down east. It was June of 1992 and it had been weeks since the family of 27 year old Katrina McVeigh had heard from her, and even longer since they'd seen Katrina in person. It wasn't totally out of the ordinary to go long stretches of time without any contact. But then again, her family at least expected to see Katrina for a wedding. On May 16, she went and bought.

[Todd Tebow]

A brand new dress for my brother's wedding. It was either a day or two before then. They had talked and she's like, yeah, I'm going to be there. That's my brother. Well, she didn't show up.

[Kylie Lowe]

That's Todd Tebow, Katrina's younger brother. He was 16 years old at the time and living with his mother in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Both he and Katrina grew up in the Ocean State.

[Todd Tebow]

Originally. Everybody was pretty ticked off thinking, you know, she went and did something. That's not the first thing she had missed, you know.

[Kylie Lowe]

It was true that Katrina had been going through a tumultuous time in her life, but she was working to get back on her feet. Whatever the reason, she didn't make it to her brother's wedding. Todd and his family half expected a phone call with an explanation or an apology, but the days went by without one.

[Todd Tebow]

Time went on. So it would have been typical to two, three, four weeks before you'd hear from her again. In between that time, my mom got a phone call from someone.

[Kylie Lowe]

It wasn't Katrina. In fact, nobody knows who the caller was to this day. But what they said changed everything and began a several decades long quest for answers.

[Todd Tebow]

Tell Todd he can find his sister by the riverbank or your daughter's by the riverbank or something. Something to that effect.

[Kylie Lowe]

The message cast the weeks without hearing from Katrina in an entirely different light. What did it mean she was by the riverbank? Did something terrible happen? There were only more questions that surfaced as Katrina's family tried to get in touch with her themselves. But she wasn't anywhere to be found. When Katrina's mother Charlotte filed a missing persons report with Woonsocket police that June, she didn't know yet that Katrina had already been missing for nearly a month. Todd and Katrina are about 10 years apart. So when his mother was working, it was big sister Katrina who looked after him. They spent a lot of time together and looked out for one another.

[Todd Tebow]

You know, you didn't mess with little bro and you didn't mess with big sis. You know, it's just one of those things. We're two peas in a pod, but completely different.

[Kylie Lowe]

Many of his memories with Katrina are the simple times. Just two kids growing up in the 80s around Providence and Kent County, Rhode Island.

[Todd Tebow]

We spent a lot of time camping, spent a lot of time walking. There wasn't anywhere we didn't walk. Sometimes it felt like we walked the length of Rhode island at times.

[Kylie Lowe]

By the summer of 1992, Katrina had long been out of her mother's house. She'd gotten married and then divorced and then married again in March of 1988 to a man named Richard McVeigh. They had two children together, and Katrina had another child from a previous marriage. They moved out of Rhode island and lived in Maine for a while. According to her family, Katrina's marriage to Richard was not a happy or safe one. Richard was controlling and abusive. According to police logs published in the Lewiston Son Journal, when Katrina and Richard were living in Maine In April of 1988, Richard was arrested and charged with domestic assault. He was released on personal recognizance on the condition that he would not associate with his wife for two days. He entered a not guilty plea, but it's unclear how that case was resolved. Todd personally witnessed one incident of physical abuse by Richard against his sister, and he called police. It was the same night Katrina decided to leave Richard for good. After their separation and due to challenges Katrina faced that impacted her ability to care for her children, the kids were placed in the custody of Katrina's mother. While Katrina tried to find solid ground in her own life. Russ Olivio reports for the Woonsocket Call that Katrina tried to stay at a shelter for battered women. Katrina believed she was safe there until Richard showed up one day. He somehow found out where she was and came looking for her.

[Todd Tebow]

She had got thrown out of the shelter because he showed up drunk one day, making threats and what have you. And they were like, well, you can't stay here.

[Kylie Lowe]

Because as reported by the Woonsocket Call, shelter staff told Katrina, she was, quote, deemed a security risk, end quote. After that, Katrina was unhoused. The circumstances of the custody arrangement for her children allowed her to visit the kids anytime. But for reasons unknown to Todd, Katrina wasn't permitted to live under the same roof as her children at the time.

[Todd Tebow]

There's a place called Social park, World War II Memorial Park. All us kids we called it social ocean. And at the time, the playground had these concrete culverts stacked up that the kids used to play on. And for a while she was sleeping in those at the park. So every step she takes, she'd get kicked back about 3 yards, whether it be from child services, whether it be from the shelter, whether it be from her circumstances when she had nowhere to go.

[Kylie Lowe]

Previous reporting has alluded to Katrina's possible involvement in sex work and selling and using drugs. But as far as Todd knows, and according to the source material I have access to for this case, Katrina was never arrested or charged with any related crimes. However, people she spent time with and eventually lived with were definitely wrapped up in that scene. For a time. Katrina was staying at a residence on Lincoln Street. That's where Todd saw his sister for the last time.

[Todd Tebow]

I had showed up at the house on Lincoln street that she was staying at, and I knocked on the door. I ticked off a couple people that I was there. I got a free ride down the stairs, didn't care. She evidently wasn't there, but she came over to tell me, hey, I'm fine. She appreciated me coming to check on her. This, that and everything else. We had a decent conversation. It wasn't an argument or anything like that. I was like, you know, hey, what do you need the best 16, 17 year old can say, you know? But it was more of a brother sister conversation than anything. Hindsight being 20 20, I probably would have made it more meaningful than it was.

[Kylie Lowe]

Immediately before her disappearance, Katrina found housing with a friend named Judy Burton, who said she could stay at her place while she figured out what was next. Katrina moved into Judy's apartment at 295 Second Avenue in Woonsocket, and that's where she was known to be living in the months before she went missing. Providence, Bristol Superior Court records show that Judi Burton had faced charges for possession of a needle and syringe in 1984, possession of a controlled substance in 1987, receiving stolen goods in 1989, simple assault and battery in 1991, and later, several drug related offenses, which we'll get into in a bit. It remains a possibility in Todd's mind that his sister was involved in or partied to some of these activities. Knowing who she was living when she.

[Todd Tebow]

Went and did anything that may have been shady, and whether it had been prostitution or dealing drugs. People make choices. I'm not excusing it if that's indeed what was going on, but she was surviving, she wasn't living, and she was at the bottom of the bottom at that point of her life.

[Kylie Lowe]

But even at the bottom, even when she kept getting knocked down, even when everything seemed to be working against her, Todd says Katrina kept going, doing whatever was necessary to survive until things got better.

[Todd Tebow]

She wasn't a person without hope, and she was a person definitely trying to get back on her feet. Everywhere she reached, though, was just barely out of her grasp. She fell through the cracks on everything.

[Kylie Lowe]

Following up on the initial missing persons report, Woonsocket police turned to Judy, hoping to discover Katrina's last known whereabouts. According to Steve Winters, reporting for the Providence Journal, Judy told investigators that the last time she saw Katrina was on the night of May 14th as they were leaving Ollie's Pizza Parlor on South Main street in Woonsocket. Judy said that as they walked outside the pizza joint, a white man driving an older model car pulled up alongside them and Katrina got in from there. Jody wasn't sure where Katrina went, but she never came back to the apartment that night or since. If Judy got a good look at the driver or provided any more of a description of the person or vehicle, that's not public information. Meanwhile, Katrina's family plastered missing persons posters around Woonsocket as well as Providence, Central Falls and Cumberland, hoping to shake out any sightings or tips. And tips did come in. Police say they received information from as far away as Fall river and New Bedford, Massachusetts, but they were dead ends. Todd was putting boots to the ground and searching for Katrina himself. He may have been a kid, but he was willing to do anything if it meant bringing his big sister home. The call his mother received stuck with him.

[Todd Tebow]

Tell Todd he can find his sister by the riverbank.

[Kylie Lowe]

Acorns believes that anyone can be an investor. That's why they make it easy to stick to basic time tested principles that give your money a chance to grow. Acorns is a financial wellness app that makes it easy to start saving and investing for your future. You don't need to be an expert. Acorns will recommend a diversified portfolio that matches you and your money goals. And you don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you get started with the spare money you've got right now. Even if all you've got is spare change. Sign up now and join the over 13 million all time customers who have already saved and invested over $22 billion with Acorns. Head to acorns.com downeast or download the Acorns app to get started. Paid non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns Tier 2 compensation provided investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. View important [e-mail] Downeast with a new year comes a new opportunity to reimagine ourselves and more importantly, our wardrobes. Refresh your look with quality pieces and stay on budget with Quint's. From their cozy Mongolian cashmere sweaters to their activewear that's designed to move with you during your workout, all Quince pieces are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. They're able to do that by partnering directly with top factories, cutting out the cost of the middleman and passing the savings on to you. I just treated myself to a new set of bamboo pajamas from Gwen's because I've been sleeping in this like same ratty old T shirt and I was like, I'm a grown up. I can get real pajamas. They're so cozy. I can vouch for the benefits of wearing real actual pajamas instead of an old T shirt. Upgrade your closet this year without the upgraded price tag. Go to quince.com downeast for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's quince.com downeast to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com downeast the 48 mile long Blackstone river winds its way from Worcester, Massachusetts through Woonsocket and down Pawtucket Falls in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. If Katrina really was somewhere near that river, Todd was determined to find her. That message from the anonymous caller made him angry. His anger propelled him into action.

[Todd Tebow]

Oh, you're talking about a pissed off teenager and a couple other radio edits. I'm not going to say. But yeah, I was. I was with a vengeance at that point. For what? I don't know from who, I don't know. But my goal was to find her. So from that point on, my entire summer was by the river. Whether that's where she was at or not, who knows. But that's where I spent my summer.

[Kylie Lowe]

Todd was no stranger to covering long distances on foot. Remember, he and his sister used to walk everywhere together as kids. Now he was walking in search of his sister, covering miles upon miles, mostly alone.

[Todd Tebow]

So I went from Cumberland, Rhode island all the way on up to just before Blackstone on each side. I walked that for like a summer. Sometimes people went with me. Most of the time they didn't. You know, one point I had found a kitten, brought it home, named her cat for Katrina, you know.

[Kylie Lowe]

So Todd was Out on a search one day, scouring the riverbanks in costa park, off first avenue in woonsocket, when he found something.

[Todd Tebow]

I was going through it, and at the time, you know, parts of it were overgrown. I came to a spot, and I found a white turtleneck and some other items. You know, that just the last time I had spoke to her, that's what she was wearing because she was always cold. She was itty bitty. So I was thinking those were hers, and I reported it as such.

[Kylie Lowe]

Todd used the phone at a nearby package store to call his mother. But he's not sure what happened to the items after that, and neither do current investigators on the case.

[Todd Tebow]

What happened to those things? I don't know. The woonsocket police currently don't know what happened to those items.

[Kylie Lowe]

But something happened after Todd made that discovery on the riverbank. The phone rang at his mother's house again. This time, Charlotte knew for sure who was on the other end of the line. It was Katrina's estranged husband, Richard mcveigh.

[Todd Tebow]

My mother got a second phone call to tell me that I would never find her. I actually had walked in the house with my girlfriend at the time when my mom got that phone call, and he told her that I would not find her. I will never forget it. It was just like a movie, you know, you walk in and the dreaded phone call comes in.

[Kylie Lowe]

Todd took the phone call as a sign that maybe he was onto something.

[Todd Tebow]

I had got a little too close. I feel like whether those were her clothes or not, I got a little too close, I think than what somebody was comfortable with.

[Kylie Lowe]

Law enforcement already had Richard mcveigh on their radar Even before Katrina's mother received that phone call from a person she believed was Richard. But Richard swore he never made that call and claimed he didn't know where Katrina was either. According to a book by Linda rosenkrantz, and former woonsocket police Captain Edward Lee, Jr. Called the Ripper. Richard mcveigh told police that the last time he saw Katrina was all the way back in January of that year, 1992, more than six months before she was reported missing. When he was asked about the phone call that Charlotte said she received from him, Richard said he didn't know anything about it, and he claimed he didn't call her. He felt that Charlotte just didn't like him, and she was always blaming him for all the problems in Katrina's life. And, you know, Richard was probably right about his mother in law not liking him. One look at his criminal past plus his future convictions. And I can't imagine any parent wanting their child hanging out with a person like him. His offenses in Rhode island include a 1989 conviction for second degree child abuse. In September of 1991, Richard was charged with domestic assault and served six months in jail. Then in July of 1992, a few months after Katrina was last seen, Richard was arrested and charged with eight counts of first degree sexual assault. Court records reveal the vile and atrocious sexual assault Richard committed against his own child over the course of several years. When he finally faced trial for his crimes, Richard was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. So although Richard had been in and out of jail in the years before Katrina disappeared and would be put away for good after she disappeared, Richard was out and about around the time Katrina was last seen alive. And even though they hadn't located her remains or any conclusive evidence that Katrina was deceased, Woonsocket police had been treating her disappearance as a homicide just in case things shifted that direction. So Richard was without a doubt a suspect in Katrina's disappearance. But this isn't an open and shut the husband did it case. Not in the eyes of Katrina's family.

[Todd Tebow]

We don't think he did it.

[Kylie Lowe]

We think he knows there's another angle that they believe is more likely than Richard McVeigh.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Don't miss the Hulu original docu series. Devil in the Family, the Fall of Ruby Frankie. My wife creating a YouTube channel.

[Kylie Lowe]

Thumbs up.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Subscribe but only what we wanted to show.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

I'm still recording a three part series event. She said the children were demonically possessed.

[Kylie Lowe]

Get out.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

That blew the powder keg.

[Kylie Lowe]

Ruby crossed a line to psychotic 9 online emergency. Open the door.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Devil in the Family the Fall of Ruby Frankie. All episodes now streaming on Hulu.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Great brands, great prices. Everyone's got a reason to rack because.

[Kylie Lowe]

They have framed jeans. Nike, yes, just so many good brands.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Vince, Kurt, Geiger, London Rag and Bone and more are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. You never know what you'll find, but you know it's going to be so good. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack.

[Kylie Lowe]

Those first few months after Katrina was reported missing, Woonsocket police continued to suss out the theories and leads they dug up. Some people who police interviewed said they thought Katrina may have left town to be a sex worker. While others thought she was abducted and could be alive somewhere. Another theory suggested there wasn't anything nefarious about her disappearance. Katrina might have been living with a friend on Cape Cod.

[Todd Tebow]

There were claims that she had run off, run away and everything else, but she. Unfortunately, the kids never really got to knew her past a, you know, young age. But she loved those kids. She would have never ran off without them.

[Kylie Lowe]

The leads all proved to be false. No matter where they looked, they didn't find Katrina. Katrina's disappearance wasn't the only concerning incident local investigators were handling at the time. Around the time that Katrina was last seen, two women were attacked in two separate incidents near the Rhode island border outside of Blackstone, Massachusetts. In one case, a woman was abducted at knifepoint but was able to escape and run to a nearby police cruiser for help. In the other incident, a woman was sexually assaulted in St. Charles Cemetery in Blackstone, but she too was able to escape and seek help. Police considered the possibility that Katrina's disappearance was related to the two attacks, but hadn't identified a suspect or proven connection between any of the cases. Meanwhile, as the search for Katrina was ongoing, the woman Katrina was staying with at the time of her disappearance was arrested for unrelated crimes. In Late July of 1992, Judy Burton and three other suspects were arrested following an undercover sting. Judy was charged with distributing heroin. Police questioned Judy again following her arrest, but they didn't learn anything new to aid in the search for Katrina. If you ask Todd, ongoing efforts to crack down on narcotics distribution in the greater Woonsocket area, including this undercover sting that resulted in Judy's arrest, could hold the answers to his sister's disappearance. He says Katrina told his mother something before she disappeared.

[Todd Tebow]

Supposedly she was doing a little CI work with the police department, and then she told my mother, hey, you know, you're going to see this in paper. Don't panic because I'm not going to be one of the ones arrested, but just be quiet about it. Whatever.

[Kylie Lowe]

Todd has been the primary contact for his sister's case in recent years, and he's on good terms with the investigators currently handling the file. But when he asks about his sister possibly being a confidential informant for police and the role that may have played in her disappearance, the tone of the conversation shifts.

[Todd Tebow]

The department got very guarded when I brought that up, but I'm not making accusations. I'm questioning. If it's the wrong route, then it's the wrong route. If it's possible, okay, then it's possible. Either way, let's either put it to rest or, you know, say, okay, it's a possibility.

[Kylie Lowe]

There wasn't any one convincing lead to direct the investigation down a focused path. But the what and why weren't Nearly as important to Todd or as where. Police have conducted multiple searches throughout the years. They've searched along the riverbank in the park where Katrina sometimes slept and beyond.

[Todd Tebow]

And there was a couple of places I had given to encyclopedia. There was a house that had a dirt basement and another place. And they went and they checked it out and there was nothing there. It was like, as I remembered it, they ran the dogs through the park and didn't find anything. But I didn't expect him to either, you know, especially after the second phone call.

[Kylie Lowe]

Katrina's case went cold fast. It took 17 years before she received any significant concentrated attention again. In 2009, Woonsocket police assigned a pair of detectives to review two unsolved cases, including Katrina's disappearance. Woonsocket police captain Edward Lee said the plan was to review evidence, fill gaps of information, and re interview witnesses. Captain Lee was hopeful that contemporary investigative methods would yield new information in the cases, but there was no significant evidence developed as part of this effort. Todd remembers the sudden resurgence of attention on his sister's case from both law enforcement and the media alike, years after that, when Rhode island announced the formation of a new cold case squad. Again, Katrina's case was under review to see if new investigative measures could warm up a case that had sat cold for years. This is maybe where those items Todd found on the riverbank in Costa park could have been critical. If they still existed somewhere, maybe they could have been tested and ruled in or out as belonging to Katrina. But that evidence is still mia.

[Todd Tebow]

In fact, when I had my meeting with the quote, unquote cold case squad folks, they asked me if I knew if they picked it up because there was nothing cataloged in the evidence locker. I can't be upset with them because they weren't the ones in the original investigation. But like I said, it's one of those things that everything was always within reach and, you know, somehow it got away.

[Kylie Lowe]

Katrina's case remains unsolved today, regardless of the renewed effort in 2009 and any investigation since the formation of the cold case squad.

[Todd Tebow]

It's cold case is cold. It's going to take somebody stumbling across something before we find anything out.

[Kylie Lowe]

Todd has continued searching for Katrina over the years, remaining hopeful that this may someday all come to an end and Katrina will be found. He's not sure why the two callers singled him out back in 1992, but it didn't scare him knowing someone was out there, maybe even watching his every move as he looked for his sister.

[Todd Tebow]

And I would Walk to work and there would be a dark colored truck that would kind of follow me or something. Supposedly it was a dark colored vehicle that she left with. But I think I was too young, young and dumb to really be scared at the time. I think I was more hopeful, for better or worse, that I would run into whoever it was at that time. You know, thinking like a teenager versus thinking of somebody with sense.

[Kylie Lowe]

Though he no longer lives in Rhode island, whenever he's back in the state to visit family, he makes a point to check in with police. He is actually planning to return to Woonsocket in the near future to follow up on some new information and conduct another search.

[Todd Tebow]

This person I know from childhood, she was close to the streets from a young age, but she had given me a hint where she might be. It was pretty close to where I was looking. So I plan on going back just to check out that one spot. Just, you never know. I don't think she's there, but it's just to put it to rest in my head.

[Kylie Lowe]

He knows it's possible that all of his efforts in searching along the river throughout the last three plus decades may have been fueled by false information. To begin with.

[Todd Tebow]

She may have never been near to river. Do we know? No, that's just where it was pointed.

[Kylie Lowe]

But until something convinces him otherwise, Todd will keep searching and he'll keep in touch with police. Though he's long felt his sister deserved more attention from Woonsocket PD than she was given during the original investigation.

[Todd Tebow]

You know, back in those days, if you had a person who was close to the street like that, they didn't get much attention. And that's just the truth. Nobody around her time especially was thought of as a person who was going through things like that. And that's just, that's reality of it.

[Kylie Lowe]

The interactions between Katrina's family and Woonsocket police have varied throughout the years. Things are better now, but for a long time it felt like they were always getting the run around.

[Todd Tebow]

I've had positive experiences over the last few years with Chief Oaks and stuff, versus when all this had occurred, or even going back to Rhode island and trying to check in on it and just being completely ignored. We sat downstairs in the police department three hours one time and nobody ever showed up. But they knew we were there, but nobody showed up to talk to us.

[Kylie Lowe]

Since then, Todd has made headway with investigators and he feels that's partially because of his own law enforcement background. As a retired police officer himself, Todd has a beneficial perspective When Talking to Woonsocket PD and trying to get information out of them. It deserves mention, too, that as someone navigating a family member's unsolved case, Todd had an even greater understanding for what victims families go through.

[Todd Tebow]

It was also an asset in my career because I see it from both ends. So you can understand the frustration because you don't have the information to give or at the time, there's something you can't put out because you gotta hold it back for whatever reason. And there's also, you know, I hate to be thought of a victim, but the whole family is. And. And you're looking for information yourself.

[Kylie Lowe]

As of right now, Todd maintains his own theories about what caused his sister's disappearance. Although her estranged husband's track record of violence puts him on the case radar as a possible suspect, Todd isn't convinced that's the answer here.

[Todd Tebow]

I think it has something to do with that drug raid, to be honest with you, and it got out.

[Kylie Lowe]

Judy Burton, who Katrina was living with at the time of her disappearance, has not been named a suspect, Nor does source material lead me to believe she is implicated at all in Katrina's case. However, Judy was arrested again in October of 1992 during a raid at two apartments in Woonsocket. She was among five people charged with possessing and delivering cocaine. It's evident that that there was an ongoing effort to crack down on the distribution of cocaine and heroin in Providence county around the time of Katrina's disappearance, and Judy was involved in the sale of those drugs. But whether Katrina played a part in the raids and stings as a confidential informant prior to her disappearance cannot be verified at this time. As for Richard McVeigh, he died in prison from lung cancer. If he had any information about Katrina's disappearance, it died with him. Almost 33 years later. Todd's memories of his sister, like his love for her, have not faded. He finds ways to honor Katrina in his daily life.

[Todd Tebow]

She liked that song Delta dawn, and she liked the Tanya Tucker version. The thing is, the Delta dawn song is so crazy. If you listen to the words, you know, about a flower and about he's coming to take you home and things like that. So, I don't know, you kind of try to fit things in where they don't necessarily fit. But, yeah, that was her song. So every now and then, I put it on my playlist and hit it. My wife's great with gardening and stuff, so we plant carnations. Those are my sister's favorite flowers. We take the carnations we throw them off the bridge, it being a river because we don't have any answers and throw them off the bridge near the park that I believe I found her clothes. So when we get a chance, that's what we do. But there's carnations outside all the time.

[Kylie Lowe]

To help remind her over the bridge and the carnations and the song compose his makeshift memorial for Katrina until his family can bring her home themselves. That's what they want more than anything. Justice has taken a secondary seat to just finding Katrina and giving her a proper burial.

[Todd Tebow]

I've got the reality of this is probably not going to be solved. She's probably not in the solvent part don't mean two flip sticks at this point in life. All the main suspects are dead anyway. So just getting her from where she's at and putting her in the grave that my mom has for her, whatever it might be, whether it's a toenail or whether it's a whole skeleton, you know, just finding her or something of her, that would be the goal. But I'm at a complete loss. I just may leave it to the guy up above and just have to accept it.

[Kylie Lowe]

If you have information relating to the case of Katrina McVeigh and could help bring her home, please contact the Woonsocket Police Department at 401-766-1212. Thank you for listening to Dark Down East. You can find all source material for this [e-mail] Be sure to follow the show on Instagram arkdowneast. This platform is for the families and friends who have lost their loved ones and for those who are still searching for answers. I'm not about to let those names or their stories get lost with time. I'm Kylie Lowe and this is Dark Down East. Dark down east is a production of Kylie Media and Audio Check so what do you think Chuck? Do you approve?

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Netcredit is here to say yes to a personal loan or line of credit when other lenders say no, apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. If approved, applications are typically funded the next business day or sooner. Loans offered by Netcredit or lending partner banks and serviced by NetCredit application subject to review and approval. Learn more at netcredit.com partners. NetCredit credit to the People.

[Unknown Speaker 4]

When living with cancer, it's important to be informed and know what to expect. But finding the right information can feel overwhelming. That's why understandcancertogether.com is here to help. We've gathered practical information and resources based on where you are in your cancer journey so that you can focus on the important conversations and decisions of today. Understand CancerTogether.com helping you navigate life with cancer one moment at a time.