Man Charged in 1986 Murder of Salem Student Faces Jury

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A Massachusetts jury has begun deliberations in the decades-old killing of a Salem State College student, weighing whether a man already serving time for a separate strangulation attack is responsible for her death. Prosecutors allege that John Carey, 66, murdered 20-year-old Claire Gravel of North Andover in 1986, while the defense argues investigators failed to conduct a thorough investigation and points to inconsistencies in witness statements over time.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting cold cases, particularly those involving decades-old witness testimony and DNA evidence. The outcome could have significant implications for the victim's family and the broader community, as well as set precedents for how such cases are handled in the future.

The details

Prosecutors claim that Carey forcefully grabbed Gravel's tank top and strangled her to death in 1986, after she was last seen being dropped off at her apartment in Salem. Carey is already serving a 20-year sentence for attempting to kill a neighbor in 2007 by choking her. The defense argues that investigators failed to conduct a thorough investigation in 1986 and points to missing records and inconsistencies in witness statements over time.

• In 1986, Gravel's body was found in the woods in Beverly a day after she had been at a pub in neighboring Salem.
• In 2007, Carey was convicted of attempting to kill a neighbor, Rosemary Diskin, in Hamilton by choking her inside her home.
• On Monday, the jury began deliberations in the case against Carey for Gravel's 1986 murder.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Jurors are expected to continue deliberating until they reach a verdict.