A young girl goes to collect babysitting money and never returns On a crisp autumn afternoon in Farmington, Maine, 15-year-old Judith Hand, a White female, left her home on September 10, 1971, to walk to a babysitting job. This responsible ninth-grader at Mt. Blue Junior High School was a cherished member of a large family, known for her shy demeanor and for contributing to the household with her earnings. After returning from school around 2:10 p.m., she set out again at approximately 2:50 p.m., parting ways with two friends and declining a ride, preferring
the short walk. She was never seen alive again. When she failed to return home that evening, her concerned parents reported her missing.
The initial response from local law enforcement was that she would likely return on her own, a sentiment that did not quell her family's growing fears. Their instincts told them something was terribly wrong. A frantic search ensued, lasting for thirteen agonizing days. Then, on September 23, 1971, the community's worst fears were realized. Judith's badly decomposed body was discovered buried in a sawdust pile at an abandoned mill off High Street. The condition of her remains, exacerbated by the damp sawdust and recent heavy rains, made it impossible for the medical examiner to determine an exact cause of death, though it was unequivocally ruled a homicide. It was also unclear if she had been sexually assaulted.
The investigation into Judith Hand's murder was extensive, with hundreds of people interviewed by police. Over the years, several leads emerged, sparking brief glimmers of hope that justice might be served. Two individuals confessed to the crime, but their admissions were ultimately determined to be false. The case was officially reopened in 1988 based on new information, but this too did not lead to an arrest. At one point, investigators explored a possible connection to a father-and-son duo from Massachusetts who were suspects in a string of rapes and murders of young women across the Northeast during that same period. However, no charges were ever filed against them in relation to Judith's death.
Despite the persistent efforts of law enforcement, including the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, the murder of Judith Hand remains unsolved. The case has become a lingering source of pain and frustration for her surviving family members and for the investigators who have worked on it over the decades. The tragic story of a young girl who vanished on her way to a babysitting job has left an indelible mark on the small town of Farmington, a haunting reminder of a life cut short and a killer who was never brought to justice.
