Directory of Research Grants 2008

Book excerpt: It was the 50s and life was simple, until September 25, 1954. That was the night that would be etched in the memory of the citizens of Stanfield, Massachusetts. The Chief of Police described the brutal savagery of the double homicide as "the most atrocious crime in the history of the city." A fourteen-year-old girl, and the four-year-old boy in her care were murdered at the hands of a deranged, depraved killer. A Thread of Evidence places the reader at the scene of the crime, an eye witness to the senseless stabbing of two innocent children. With a piece of crochet thread as their only clue, the entire police department, lead by detectives Steven Logan and Raymond Gage, scour the city in search of a maniacal savage. When all tips and leads have been exhausted, they review all evidence. They come back to the thread. The only real evidence. With tenacity and perseverance of Logan and Gage the killer is apprehended. The reader experiences the twists and turns of the investigation, and ultimately occupies a reserved seat in the Superior Court as the trial proceedings commence. A Thread of Evidence has been written as fiction, but inspired by an actual event. Fifty years later, it remains etched in the minds of all who had lived in the area. The author has researched court records, newspapers, interviewed neighbors, police and has drawn on personal recollections of the crime. The story has been recounted over and over and to this day, it continues to be discussed. A Thread of Evidence is a compelling account of superb detective work, and unprecedented dedication of an entire police department.