Somersworth Baby Bones Murderer

Serial Killer

The Somersworth Baby Bones Mystery

Discovery of the Trunk

On April 6, 1983, Earl and Ruth Davis of Somersworth, New Hampshire, were cleaning their basement at 219 Route 16B when they encountered a locked steamer trunk left in their care over two decades earlier by a former neighbor, Shirley Thomas. Upon forcing the trunk open, they discovered five decomposed infant remains wrapped in old newspapers, concealed within hat boxes and suitcases. This grim finding initiated an investigation into a case that remains unsolved to this day.

Contents of the Trunk

The trunk contained the skeletal remains of five infants, each wrapped meticulously:

• Infant 1: Found in a black leather suitcase, wrapped in a pink cloth. Newspapers dated May 25, 1949, were used in the wrapping.
• Infant 2: Discovered in a hatbox, enveloped in a handmade bathrobe with orange trim. Newspapers from November 30, 1950, were present.
• Infant 3: Located in a Stetson hatbox from New York, wrapped in a green flowered cloth and white dishtowel. Associated newspapers dated November 29, 1950.
• Infant 4: Found in another box, wrapped in a Foster's Daily Democrat evening edition from November 30, 1950. This child appeared to be approximately seven months developed.
• Infant 5: Discovered in a cosmetic case with newspapers dated August 24, 1952.

Shirley Thomas and the Investigation

Shirley Thomas, a former General Electric employee in Somersworth, had entrusted the trunk to the Davises in the late 1950s, citing a lack of space in her apartment. When questioned after the discovery, Thomas mentioned a "baby snuffing" operation from years prior and claimed the person responsible was deceased. After being advised of her rights, she provided no further information. Thomas was never arrested and later relocated to North Adams, Massachusetts, where she passed away, taking any additional knowledge with her. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (0)

Baby bones mystery: Case still unsolved 25 years later

    ...View 5 additional sources