Murdered Swampscott Teen's Body Exhumed 50 Years After Death As Case 'Remains Active'

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The body of a Swampscott teen whose murdered has remained unsolved for more than half a century was exhumed from Swampscott Cemetery on Wednesday based on what Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said was "information recently received" and advances in forensic science.

Henry Bedard was 15 years old when he went missing after going Christmas shopping for his girlfriend in Vinnin Square on Dec. 16, 1974. His beaten body was found in a wooded area behind what is currently the Swampscott DPW near Paradise Road the next day.

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Police in recent years have attempted to keep the investigation alive through yearly requests for new information on the anniversary of his death and pinned posts on social media. Those requests have centered around a baseball bat that was found with unique markings near the body.

"Advances in forensic science and technology have led to new criminal investigative avenues that were not possible in the past," Tucker said on Wednesday. "We are hopeful that these advances will lead to significant evidence."

The Swampscott Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Cases Unit assigned to Tucker’s office, MSP Crime Scene Services Section, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner oversaw the exhumation on Wednesday.

"What happened to Henry has never left this town, and young or old, all of the community still talks about Henry and what happened on that fateful day," Swampscott Police Chief Ruben Quesada said.

Anyone with information about Bedard’s murder is encouraged to contact the Unresolved Case Unit tip line at 1-855-MA-SOLVE or at mspunresolved@pol.state.ma.us.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza).