A young mother is murdered on September 11th, 2001, while the world watches events in horror In the early hours of September 11, 2001, a day that would soon be seared into the nation's collective memory for other tragic reasons, the life of a 27-year-old Caucasian / White woman named Nicole Parsons Bucki came to a violent end in Providence, Rhode Island. Just after midnight, concerned neighbors entered her apartment and made a grim discovery.
Nicole was found fully clothed in her bathtub with a hairdryer in the water, leading responding officers to initially believe it was a suicide.
However, the scene, which appeared staged, raised suspicions among detectives. They noted that knickknacks were carefully wrapped and packed in suitcases, and clothes were in bags, suggesting she was preparing to leave. An autopsy would soon confirm their fears, revealing a brutal homicide, not a suicide. The examination found water in her nasal cavity, indicating she had been drowned. There were also signs of strangulation and a hemorrhaged pancreas from blunt force trauma, with no evidence of electrocution.
The investigation into Nicole's murder quickly focused on her turbulent and abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend. In the days leading up to her death, the two were seen arguing, and Nicole had visible bruises. She had reportedly been dragged from her apartment and locked out. A verbal no-contact order was issued after police were called. On September 10, her ex-boyfriend was arrested for domestic simple assault but was released the same day. Neighbors reported seeing him trying to gain access to her apartment just hours before she was found dead.
Despite the history of domestic violence and his proximity to the crime, Nicole's ex-boyfriend was never charged in connection with her murder, though he faced other charges for domestic violence and violating protection orders. The case was tragically overshadowed by the terror attacks that unfolded later that day, burying the story of her murder in the headlines. Over the years, the investigation was further hampered by the reported loss of evidence by the Providence Police Department. No arrests have ever been made, and Nicole Parsons Bucki's murder remains a cold case, leaving her family still searching for justice two decades later.
