Dinelia Torres' was found off Brigham Street in Hudson, on March 3, 2004
March 5, 2004
Jane Doe' No. 3 ID'd as missing city woman ; Mother of three missing since Nov.
Scott J. Croteau Telegram & Gazette
HUDSON -- Investigators identified the remains found off Brigham Street Wednesday morning as a Worcester mother of three who was reported missing to Worcester police on Nov. 1, Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley said last night.
Dinelia Torres, 33 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen in Framingham. She was reported missing after she failed to pick up a "monthly check" in Worcester, Ms. Coakley said.
Worcester police Sgt. Vincent F. Gorgoglione said that when Ms. Torres was reported missing by her mother, Carmen, she had already been missing for three weeks, the mother told police.
The discovery of Ms. Torres' identity last night has investigators now believing there is a connection between her death and the deaths of two women whose bodies were found in the woods of Marlboro in September, she said.
"They are certainly all being treated as suspicious deaths," Ms. Coakley said. "Obviously, there is a concern for young women, in particularly to that 20-to-40 year age group in the Worcester area through maybe selling or using drugs or involved in any other illegal activities."
Ms. Coakley said that Ms. Torres and one of the other victims "both are known to have some passing acquaintance with narcotic use and solicitation."
"There is no indication that these three women knew each other," Ms. Coakley said. At this time, the only link appears to be with a prospective perpetrator, she said.
None of the deaths has been ruled a homicide, and determining if any of the women died from a stabbing, strangulation or drug overdose is impossible because none was found with enough human tissue, Ms. Coakley said. Foul play is a concern, she said.
There are no leads on any suspects that can be released now, she said.
There is nothing to indicate that Ms. Torres was killed or died at the Brigham Street location where her skull and bones were discovered Wednesday, Ms. Coakley said.
"It appears much more likely that her body was left at that location," Ms. Coakley said.
Officials yesterday matched Ms. Torres' dental records to the teeth found on the skull of Jane Doe No. 3, and confirmed the identification around 7 last night, Ms. Coakley said.
The remains of Carmen Rudy were found Sept. 29 on the grounds of the Hillside School. She had been identified as Jane Doe No. 2. Those bones were found near the remains of a woman still being referred to as Jane Doe No. 1.
Ms. Coakley said the three women have similar characteristics.
"Her age, her physical appearance, is in some ways eerily similar to Carmen Rudy, and from what we know of Jane Doe No. 1, it is also similar to that," she said talking about Ms. Torres.
It is hard to say definitively that the deaths of the three women were at the hands of a serial killer, but officials have to "operate on that theory," among others, Ms. Coakley said.
"Clearly this information today about this individual does nothing to dissuade us from that theory," Ms. Coakley said.
Worcester police said Ms. Torres, whose last known address they listed as 1 Clapp St., was known to them. They declined to be more specific.
Residents of the Clapp Street three-decker last night said they were unfamiliar with Ms. Torres.
Officials do not have any suspects at this time or any information on leads that can be released, Ms. Coakley said.
"We are interested in getting information that may lead us to an appropriate resolution to what are now three mysterious and sad deaths in Marlboro and in Hudson," she said.