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May 8, 2008 12:06 am US/Eastern
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Girl's Mysterious Disappearance Haunts N.H. Town
Jim Smith, WBZ Reporter
NEWTON, N.H. (WBZ) ―
Police in New Hampshire say a strong tip in the disappearance of a Newton girl 28 years ago has sparked new interest in the cold case.
Rachel Garden was last seen alive in March 1980.
Investigators have started searching ponds in Newton, N.H., not far from where Garden disappeared.
Peter Jewett is one of the last people who saw her the day she disappeared.
"It has haunted everybody," he said. Jewett owned the general store where Garden was last seen.
He said he can still see the 15-year-old girl in his mind.
"She was a little spit fire, five feet tall and full of energy," he recalled. "A great girl."
On that spring day, Garden came in and bought a pack of cigarettes and gum. And then she left to meet friends. She was never seen again.
Police believe Garden was murdered and her body is in a nearby country pond. They searched the pond Sunday and Monday after a reliable tip came in. They did not find the girl's remains.
Police wouldn't say who the tip came from.
The girl's disappearance has haunted the police force as well. One officer said he feels he can't retire until the case is solved.
Police have released an age-enhanced image of Garden to show what the now 43-year-old woman would look like today.
Garden's heart broken family moved away years ago.
Police said that over the years, they've questioned a lot of people in Newton about Garden's disappearance.
But not one led to any real break in the case.
Investigators said they will continue to follow leads.
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