Maine man identified as killer in 1980 cold-case murder in Massachusetts

Joseph Leo Boudreau has been identified as the murderer of Katharina Reitz Brow, whose 1980 killing in Ayer, Massachusetts, remained unsolved for over four decades. Brow was discovered in her trailer home, having suffered 30 stab wounds, with a knife found at the scene indicating a violent struggle. Kenneth Waters was wrongfully convicted of the crime in 1983, but DNA evidence led to the vacating of his conviction in 2001. The investigation progressed when the Middlesex County Cold Case Unit utilized forensic genetic genealogy in 2022, identifying Boudreau as a suspect through DNA provided by his relatives. Boudreau, who moved to Ogunquit, Maine, in 1987, died in 2004, and investigators found no connection between him and Waters.

Police Chief Brian Gill highlighted the significance of this breakthrough for Brow's family, stating it could finally bring them closure. The case illustrates the advancements in forensic science that can rectify wrongful convictions. Boudreau's identification as the true perpetrator marks a crucial step in seeking justice for Brow.