Molly Anne Bish

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Massachusetts State Police (MA)

Offense Location:

Warren, Massachusetts

Summary:

Molly Anne Bish was a 16-year-old lifeguard from Warren, Massachusetts, who disappeared on June 27, 2000, while working at Comins Pond. Her remains were found three years later in June 2003 in Palmer, Massachusetts, approximately five miles from her family home. The case remains unsolved, though multiple suspects have been investigated over the years.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

On June 27, 2000, Molly's mother Magi dropped her off at Comins Pond in Warren, Massachusetts at approximately 10:22 a.m. for her shift as a lifeguard. This was her eighth day of work at the pond. On the day before her disappearance, June 26, Magi had noticed a suspicious mustached man in a white sedan parked in the beach parking lot, watching the area. The man appeared to be approximately 45-55 years old with dark or salt-and-pepper hair and was smoking a cigarette. Magi stayed with Molly until the man left. On the morning of June 27, when Magi dropped Molly off, the man and his car were not present. However, another witness reported seeing a man matching that description in a white car parked in the pond's parking lot just minutes before Molly arrived. A coworker also reported seeing a car matching the description parked at an adjacent cemetery that had a path leading to the pond. Within hours of being dropped off, Molly failed to appear for her shift. When authorities arrived, her belongings—shoes, a purple bag, and personal items—were found left intact at the lifeguard station. She was never seen again that day.

Additional Details:

The disappearance triggered one of the most extensive and expensive missing person searches in Massachusetts history. Approximately 35,000 people received emails with Molly's photo, and her missing-person poster was circulated to nearly 79 million mailboxes. A $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest. In fall 2002, a hunter discovered a blue bathing suit in the woods of Palmer on Whiskey Hill, approximately five miles from Comins Pond. On June 3, 2003, a large search effort began in the Palmer woods, and on June 9, 2003, Molly's partial skeletal remains were discovered scattered across approximately 35 acres of woodland on Whiskey Hill. DNA and dental records confirmed the remains were Molly's on June 9, 2003. Due to advanced decomposition and only partial remains, the cause of death could not be determined. Multiple suspects have been investigated over the years. In 2009, Rodney Stanger, who lived near Warren for over 20 years before moving to Florida shortly after Molly's disappearance, was considered a suspect. He fit the description of the man seen by Magi and had known connections to the area. In 2011, Gerald Battistoni, a convicted rapist, was identified as a suspect after investigators learned he had allegedly raped a teenage girl in the early 1990s and that his victim lived near Comins Pond Road at the time of Molly's disappearance. Battistoni resembled the composite sketch and had familiarity with the Whiskey Hill area. DNA evidence was tested but did not provide conclusive results. Battistoni attempted suicide in prison and died in November 2014 without being charged. In June 2021, Francis "Frank" P. Sumner Sr., a convicted sex offender, was named as a person of interest. Sumner had been convicted of aggravated rape and kidnapping and was released from Walpole State Prison in 1998. He operated auto repair shops in the Spencer, Leicester, and Worcester areas, close to Warren. Sumner fit the physical description provided by Magi, was known to fish at Comins Pond, and was familiar with the wooded areas where Molly's remains were found. However, Sumner died in May 2016 before being publicly linked to the case. DNA from Sumner's son was tested and did not match DNA found on Molly's clothing. In June 2017, investigators used ground-penetrating radar to search a campground in West Brookfield based on a tip that the suspect's vehicle may have been buried there, but the search yielded no results. In 2023, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. announced that additional DNA testing was underway. As of 2026, the investigation remains active, with no arrests or charges filed. Molly's parents, John and Magi Bish, founded the Molly Bish Foundation in 2001 and collaborated with Anna Maria College in 2004 to create the Molly Bish Center for the Protection of Children and the Elderly. The family has been instrumental in promoting child safety awareness and advocating for missing persons. Molly's sister Heather has been particularly active in keeping the case in the public eye through social media and advocacy work.

Case Last Updated:

Nov 02, 2026