SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. — In a dramatic development in one of New England’s longest unsolved murder cases, authorities have exhumed the body of Henry Bedard, who was brutally killed more than 50 years ago.
The presence of Boston 25 News reporter Bob Ward was requested at Swampscott Cemetery on Wednesday morning, where the exhumation took place.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office, Essex District Attorney’s Office, Swampscott police, and Massachusetts State Police were at the scene as crews began the process around 9 a.m.
Bedard was murdered in December 1974, beaten to death with a baseball bat at the age of 15. Despite decades of investigation, no arrests have ever been made.
Investigators still have the bat and have resumed forensic testing on it. They’ve also launched a renewed outreach campaign, re-interviewing individuals who may have information from the time of the crime.
“What happened to Henry has never left this town, and young or old, all of the community still talks about Henry and what happened on that fateful day,” said Swampscott police Chief Ruben Quesada.
The exhumation is part of a broader effort to reexamine the case. Bedard’s remains will be transferred to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office for a full autopsy, requested by the DA’s office.
“The impact of this crime from 50 years ago is still felt by people today,” said the Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker. “Not only the family, friends, people who knew the Bedard family, kids that hung around with them, that are now well into adulthood. It’s not anything that’s ever gone away,” he added.
Earlier this year, Ward spoke with Bedard’s father, now in his 90s, who expressed hope that new evidence might finally bring answers before his time runs out.
“I always said I would like to know before I die, well, I’m 92 in a month, how much longer have I got?” Bedard’s father told Boston 25’s Bob Ward back in May.
Authorities are optimistic that modern forensic techniques and renewed public interest could help solve the case that has haunted Swampscott for half a century.
“It gives me hope that we can someday find some type of closure for Henry, most importantly for his family and for our community,” Quesada said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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