John Carey, 66, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday for the 1986 murder of Claire Gravel, a Salem State University student. Carey was convicted of first-degree murder on March 3 after DNA evidence tied him to a tank top used to strangle Gravel. The case remained unsolved for nearly 40 years before prosecutors linked Carey to the crime.
Background and Investigation
Gravel, a 20-year-old from North Andover, was last seen alive between 1:30 and 1:45 a.m. on June 29, 1986, after being dropped off near her apartment. Her body was discovered two days later in the woods near Route 128 in Beverly. Investigators initially struggled to identify a suspect, but advances in DNA technology later connected Carey to the crime.
Key Evidence
Prosecutors presented DNA evidence from the tank top used in the strangulation, which matched Carey’s genetic profile. Carey was already serving a 20-year sentence for attempting to strangle another woman when he was charged with Gravel’s murder. Witnesses reported seeing a woman matching Gravel’s description arguing with a man outside Major Magleashes’ Pub before getting into a car, though the account was never verified.
Legal Proceedings
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker emphasized the significance of the conviction, stating that the family had waited 40 years for justice. Carey’s sentencing was handed down in Lawrence Superior Court, where he will serve his life sentence at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster.
Family and Law Enforcement Response
The Gravel family expressed relief at the resolution of the case, with prosecutors noting their persistence in pursuing leads over decades. The Massachusetts State Police and Essex County District Attorney’s Office collaborated on the investigation, which involved revisiting old evidence and applying modern forensic techniques.
Carey’s Criminal History
Carey was already incarcerated at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Concord for an unrelated 2008 conviction when he was charged with Gravel’s murder. His prior conviction involved charges related to attempting to strangle another woman, raising questions about a potential pattern of violent behavior.