Molly Bish

Name: Molly Bish
Age: 16 years old
Last seen: June 27, 2000
Location: Warren, Massachusetts
Status: Found deceased in 2003
Disappeared: Season 3 Episode 3 “Murky Waters”

Case Information

16 year old Molly Bish was last seen in Warren, Massachusetts on June 27, 2000. She disappeared from her lifeguard post at Comins Pond, a local swimming hole where she just started her second day at work as a lifeguard.

Background

Molly Bish was born on August 2, 1983 to parents John and Magi Bish. She was the youngest of three siblings.

Molly played basketball and soccer for her high school teams, and belonged to St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church.

In June 2000, she had just completed her junior year of high school and began a summer job as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren, Massachusetts.

Disappearance

On June 27, 2000, Molly was dropped off by her mother just before 10:00 a.m. at the Comins Pond, a local swimming pond. She walked toward the beach where she was to start her second day at work as a lifeguard.

Twenty minutes later, parents began arriving at the pond with their kids, but Molly was nowhere to be seen. Her first-aid kit was wide open, her personal belongings including her backpack, towel and sandals were left unattended at the lifeguard post.

Molly’s boss grew concerned when he realized Molly wasn’t there upon his arrival an hour later. He called the police who in turn informed her mother.

On June 26, the day before she disappeared, Molly’s mother reported seeing a man with a mustache in a white car parked where Molly’s lifeguard post was located. At the time she thought he seemed suspicious, but didn’t think much more about him until after Molly disappeared.

Molly’s mother didn’t see the stranger in the white car on the day she disappeared, but another witness reported seeing a man matching the stranger’s description in the parking lot just minutes before Molly arrived for work.

Investigation

Authorities initially suspected that Molly simply abandoned her post to go hang out with friends as there was no sign of struggle or foul play at the scene.

Over the next few days the State Police, with the help of local volunteers, performed a massive search for Molly, but they found so sign of her.

Human remains found in a desert area near Victorville, California

In the fall of 2002 a hunter reported seeing a blue bathing suit in the woods on Whiskey Hill in Palmer. In May of 2003 police were contacted about the bathing suit tip, and a search of the area began.

On June 9, 2003, skeletal remains and a swimsuit were discovered in a wooded area on Whiskey Hill near Palmer, Massachusetts, just five miles from Comins pond where Molly disappeared.

The remains were positively identified as belonging to Molly Bish. A cause of death was not determined, but investigators believe it was homicide.

Molly was buried on what would have been her 20th birthday.

Aftermath

In 2004, Molly’s parents established the Molly Bish Center for the Protection of Children and the Elderly at Anna Maria College, an organization devoted to promoting child safety through education and prevention.

Throughout the years, police have followed several leads, with several suspects and persons of interest publicly identified but no arrests have been made.

Foul play is strongly suspected in Molly Bish’s death and authorities believe she was the victim of homicide.

Investigating Agency

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Molly Bish please contact the district attorney’s anonymous tip line at (508) 453-7575

Resources & Further Information

Murder of Molly Bish – Wikipedia

News & Media Links

Molly Bish’s Remains Identified – WCVB 06/03
Missing Molly – CBS News 12/03
14 years ago Molly Bish vanished, family still wants justice – Fox Boston 06/14
Molly Bish’s Disappearance Still Unsolved After 20 Years – NBC Boston 06/20