MassDOT Renews Billboard Effort to Assist Deer Island Investigators

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, along with the Suffolk County District Attorney, Winthrop Police, and Massachusetts State Police, today unveiled a new digital billboard featuring the little girl whose body was found on Deer Island and whose identity remains the subject of an intensive investigation.

The billboards represent a redesign and new wording from digital billboards that MassDOT had featured over the past two months; the redesign is intended to help maintain the case’s high public profile by presenting a fresh image to the tens of thousands of motorists who pass the billboards every day.

A total of 84 MassDOT-permitted billboards in 50 locations across Massachusetts will feature the computer-generated composite image of the young girl and a photo of the leggings she was wearing, under the headline, “Remember Me? Then please tell the police!” The digital boards also feature dedicated tip lines that may be reached by phone or text. The new billboards will run at least through the end of October. Tipsters are reminded not to text while driving.

State and Winthrop Police and the district attorney’s office continue to ask anyone who may have information about the young girl’s identity to contact us. Tipsters may text the word GIRL followed by their tip to the number 67283 (the text-a-tip line is anonymous) or call 617-396-5655. All tips go directly to investigators.

The young girl’s body was found inside a trash bag by a dog walker along the western shore of Deer Island on the afternoon of June 25. The girl is believed to have been about 4 years old, had brown eyes and brown hair, weighed about 30 pounds, and stood about 3½ feet tall. She was wearing a distinctive pair of white leggings with black-and-white polka dots and was found with a zebra-print fleece blanket that investigators believe may have been special to her.

In the days and weeks that followed, investigators have acted on hundreds of leads suggesting possible matches for the young girl, coordinating well-being checks on children throughout Massachusetts, as well as in 35 other states and several countries. To date, more than 200 girls have been ruled out as being the Deer Island little girl. Investigators have conducted or are still conducting a range of forensic testing, including tests on pollen found on the girl’s hair and clothing, testing of oxygen ratios in isotopes in her hair and teeth, and creation of an advanced DNA profile. The effort to learn her name and the circumstances of her death continues on multiple fronts.

TODDLER FOUND DECEASED ON DEER ISLAND

HELP US SPEAK FOR THIS CHILD

On June 25 of this year, the body of a deceased toddler-age girl was found on the western shore of Deer Island in Winthrop. State and local police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office continue to try to identify the girl, and are again making an appeal to the public for help. Today, we are releasing a computer-generated composite image of the girl prepared by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This image depicts what the child may have looked like in life. We are also releasing images of the leggings she was wearing when found, which are white with black polka dots, and of a black and white zebra-stripe blanket found with the child’s body. The girl was approximately four years old at the time of her death, had brown eyes and brown hair, weighed about 30 pounds, and stood about 3½ feet tall.

We ask the public to be alert for any children who seem to have gone missing from their communities, their neighborhoods, schools, summer programs, parks, churches or any other places where people gather. Also, please look around July 4th gatherings – block parties, cookouts, town fireworks displays – and consider whether a child whom you would have expected to see there is now not present.

Anyone with any information about this toddler or who has information about a missing child is urged to call Massachusetts State Police at 508-820-2121 (24-hour number), the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit at 617-727-8817, or Winthrop Police at 617-539-5806.

Thank you. Please help us speak for this child who can no longer speak for herself.

Please share our Facebook post and Like our Facebook page for updates.

UPDATE 7/3/2015 at 5:45 PM:
We are extremely grateful for the many tips we have received, and we ask the public to keep sharing this little girl's photo and information so that we may continue to receive and follow up on leads. Many commenters have mentioned Aliayah Lunsford, the missing West Virginia girl. Please note that we have explored that lead and are confident that our little girl is not Aliayah. Thank you again and continue to send us your tips.

UPDATED 7/9/2015 at 8:25 AM:

Based on additional information provided by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children late yesterday completed an updated composite image depicting the child whose body was found in a trash bag on the western shore of Deer Island on June 25.  The updated image adds earrings in the child’s ears.  The composite and updated flyers/posters in English and Spanish are attached for your use going forward: the previous composite should not be considered inaccurate, but this one represents the most up-to-date version.

. https://www.facebook.com/MassStatePolice/posts/851448904939094:0

Bourne Traffic Advisory

Bourne Rotary and Bridge to be closed for morning commute as hazardous material cleanup of gas tanker crash continues. #MAtraffic

Update 7:58 a.m.
Cleanup still underway. Truck has been removed. Gasoline cleanup continues. Traffic is being detoured onto the Scenic Highway and Sandwich Road to traverse over the Sagamore Bridge. Estimated time for re-opening is between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.

Update 9:10 a.m.
Bridge is open going off cape, no lanes open coming on cape. Rotary has one lane open. Cleanup continues.

Update 9:14 a.m.
Bridge now open; One lane coming onto cape, two lanes going off cape. Outer lane in rotary is open, inner lane is closed for cleanup.

North Andover Traffic Advisory: Rte 114

MAtraffic Advisory: Propane tanker TT-unit involved in crash on Rte 114 in North Andover. Detours being set up now. Expect delays. Seek alt. route.

Warren Traffic Advisory: I-90

MAtraffic: I-90 WB at Warren/Brimfield town line CLOSED due to crash, near 69 mile-marker (Between Exits 8 & 9). EB side has breakdown lane only open for traffic. Expect delays. Seek Alt Route.  Crash occurred WB is now on EB side.

 Update 8:58 a.m.
All lanes CLOSED, Eastbound and Westbound

Update 9:38 a.m.
Medical helicopter has landed on Westbound side. All lanes EB & WB are still closed.

Update 9:59 a.m.
Eastbound traffic is now slowly moving; only breakdown lane is open. Westbound traffic is still closed.

Update:  10:26 a.m.
Breakdown lane now open, I-90 WB at crash scene in Warren/Brimfield.

Update 11:35 a.m.
Still only breakdown lane open on both EB & WB sides. Approximate 12-mile backup WB and 8-mile backup EB.

Update 1:27 p.m.
All WB lanes now open. EB still only breakdown lane open.

Final Update 2:30 p.m.
All lanes now open EB.  Crash scene is clear.

Worcester Traffic Advisory: I-290 EB

#MAtraffic Crash I-290 EB under I-190 in #Worcester. Right lane closed. Minor injuries.

Worcester Traffic Advisory: I-190

MAtraffic Advisory:  I-190 Northbound & Southbound currently CLOSED due to emergency sign removal.  Major traffic delays.  Estimated road closure until approximately 6:00 p.m.  Seek alternate route.