Forensic Link Found in Piirainen Case

More than 18 years later, officials have found a forensic link connecting former Springfield resident David Pouliot to the 1993 murder of 10-year-old Grafton resident Holly Piirainen.

The discovery "is one of, if not the, most biggest leads in the case so far,''  Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni said this morning at a press conference at the Hall of Justice in Springfield.

He would not elaborate on what the connection was, but said that items found at and near the scene were tested at the time and have been re-tested as forensic analysis becomes more sophisticated.

Through this new testing, an "indisputable match'' has been made to Pouliot, who was born Jan. 4, 1954 and died at age 49 in 2003.

Pouliot had a "familiarity and connection'' with the area where Holly's remains were found. He had been booked by the Springfield Police but does not have a background of sex-based or violent crimes, Mastroianni said.

Holly Piirainen was last seen at 11:45 a.m. Aug. 5, 1993 headed to South Shore Road in Sturbridge to play with puppies at a home in the area. Her skeletal remains were located Oct. 23 at 5 Bridge Road in Brimfield.

Law enforcement officials believe that Pouliot, who was a hunter and a fisherman, was familiar with this wooded area, which was farily isolated and includes sections of thick brush.

Holly was vacationing at her grandmother's cottage in Sturbridge at the time of her disappearance.

Law enforcement officials are urging anyone who might be familiar with Pouliot's activities or those of people associated with him from 1993 to 2003 to contact authorities. Tips can be phoned to 413-505-5933.

"We want the phones to start ringing again,'' Mastroianni said.

This new information brings law enforcement officials "a step closer to getting the information'' that could solve the case, he said.