LAWRENCE, MA — Last week, a jury announced that they were unable to reach a verdict in the trial of the suspected killer of eleven-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay, who was murdered in Lawrence in 1988. The case of Tremblay, who was found beaten and stabbed to death in a Lawrence railroad yard, remained unsolved for 35 years until an arrest was made in 2022.
Marvin “Skip” McClendon Jr., 76, of Bremen, Alabama, was charged with the girl’s murder after DNA evidence tied him to the crime. McClendon pleaded not guilty. The recent trial for his alleged involvement ended in a mistrial after the jury reported being deadlocked. No date has been set for a retrial, but prosecutors have stated their intention to retry the case. Following the mistrial, Tremblay’s family released a statement via Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office expressing their disappointment and emphasizing the importance of a retrial, stating, “justice needs to be served.”
Tremblay’s family thanked prosecutors, detectives, and jurors for their support and effort during the trial, and expressed their gratitude for the emotional support they received throughout the process. They emphasized the significance of the retrial, highlighting the 35 years that have passed without justice for Tremblay. The family stated that while the mistrial was a setback, they believe the right man was on trial and they look forward to seeing a just punishment.
The family also expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support they received from the community, noting that the trial involved a significant upheaval in their lives and that the support they received was crucial in enabling them to attend court proceedings.
Melissa Ann Tremblay’s case, which remained unsolved for 35 years, serves as a reminder for the family and the community of the need for justice to be served. The mistrial has not deterred the family’s resolve to seek justice for Tremblay, and they remain hopeful that a retrial will ultimately deliver the closure they have been seeking for decades.
