As Missy’s family we feel it is important to address the media now that the trial

has ended. While we would have preferred a guilty verdict we thank God that it
wasn’t not guilty and that this isn’t the end. The last month has been a very long
one and we would like to thank all those that have been there to support us. It
truly has taken a village to get us through.

The daily support we have received from the Essex County District Attorney’s
office, the previous detectives like Detective Murphy and Trooper Kelleher and
the current detective on Missy’s case Lt Sherber has truly been what has helped
us through this trial. They were there every step of the way and sat with us and
made sure we were okay. It was very hard hearing and seeing some of the
information revealed at trial but they were always there with a hug, a kind word
and often a box of tissues when needed. We consider them all family and know
they will continue to do their best to get justice for Missy. Also during the trial
we had the privilege of meeting Nicole Lydic and the Quinto family, Stephen, Lisa
and Jessica. Jessica and her brother Stephen were childhood friends of Missy’s
as was Nicole. The day of closing arguments having them along with all the police
officers, Troopers and staff from the district attorney’s office all sitting in that
courtroom was like they all had their arms around us comforting us.

Our friends and families support and prayers have also been a big help. Uprooting
our lives to come back for the trial involved a lot of moving parts and without
everyone’s love and support we might not have all been able to attend court.

Someone asked why retrial is so important and honestly it is because justice needs
to be served! He has had 35 years that he has gone unpunished, walking free for
33 of those years. He has lived his life with his family, including his children and
step children but yet my aunt spent the rest of her life without her child and our
family has been missing a part of us for 35 years. Missy would be 46 years old and
probably have a family of her own if he hadn’t taken her life. I don’t know what
possesses someone to do what he did to Missy. Did she interrupt something he was
doing and she became a threat to his life and his chance to go back to the Dept. of
Corrections or did he just prey on an innocent young girl? I guess we will never
know why and that will always haunt us. At least we know who is responsible for
her death. We might have got a mistrial but in our hearts we know the right man
was on trial and we look forward to seeing him finally punished.
We would also like to thank the jurors. We know at least some of them believed he
was guilty and the fact they fought so hard, deliberating through Christmas means
so much to us.