The Murder of Claire Gravel (Massachusetts)
4/23/202638 min
On a Saturday night in late June of 1986, a 20-year-old college student went out with friends in a familiar place, celebrating her softball team’s big win. But in a narrow window of opportunity just after she was dropped off in the shadows outside her apartment building, the young woman faced an evil that managed to stay hidden in those same shadows for decades.
Investigators searched for connections… People who knew her, places she had been, anything that might explain her senseless death. But nothing fit. Leads faded. The case stalled. And over time, it slipped into that uncertain space between open and unsolved.
For decades, the answer remained just out of reach until advances in science, and a single piece of preserved evidence, began to tell a different story.
View source material and photos for this episode at: darkdowneast.com/clairegravel
Dark Downeast is an Audiochuck and Kylie Media production hosted by Kylie Low.
- Follow @darkdowneast on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
- To suggest a case visit darkdowneast.com/submit-case
Did you know you can listen to Dark Downeast ad-free? Join the Crime Junkie Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsKylie Low· Host0:01
What happens inside a courtroom rarely tells the whole story, and no one knows this more than my friend Brandi Churchwell, host of 13th Juror, the podcast where she pulls back the curtain on real trials. Brandi explores both the prosecution and defense, so you'll hear the testimony, the tension, the turning points, and then you decide what it all means. Step into the courtroom every Thursday with Brandi Churchwell and listen to 13th Juror wherever you get your podcasts. On a Saturday night in late June of 1986, a 20-year-old college student went out with friends in a familiar place, celebrating her softball team's big win. But in a narrow window of opportunity just after she was dropped off in the shadows outside her apartment building, the young woman faced an evil that managed to stay hidden in those same shadows for decades. Investigators searched for connections, people who knew her, places she had been, anything that might explain her senseless death, but nothing fit. Leads faded, the case stalled, and over time, it slipped into that uncertain space between open and unsolved. For decades, the answer remained just out of reach, until advances in science and a single piece of preserved evidence began to tell a different story. I'm Kylie Lowe, and this is the case of Claire Gravel on