(NewsNation) — Police are still searching for clues after 16-year-old Molly Bish disappeared from her job as a lifeguard in Massachusetts 25 years ago.
According to NewsNation local affiliate WWLP, Bish’s mother dropped Bish off at her job on June 27, 2000. This was the last time she was seen alive by anyone in her family. Three years later, a hunter found skeletal remains in a wooded area near Palmer, Massachusetts.
One of the strongest clues has been a white car that was allegedly seen near Comins Pond, Massachusetts, where Bish’s job was. Bish’s family believed that car had been buried at a campground, but when police searched in June 2017, they found nothing.
Her sister, Heather Bish, said that her family misses her every single day, and they are still looking to support the investigation. NBC Boston reported that Bish’s family has previously said they were disappointed in the district attorney’s office and the Massachusetts State Police.
Possible person of interest previously named in Molly Bish case
The Worcester County DA did name Francis Sumner Sr. as a possible person of interest in 2021. Summer had a long criminal history of convictions for rape and kidnapping and allegedly looked similar to the man who Bish’s mother, Magi Bish, saw near Comins Pond the day before her daughter disappeared.
Sumner died in 2016, but he did live in central Massachusetts from 1960 until he died. He last lived in Spencer, Massachusetts.
(5/20/03,Warren,MA) BISHThe search for Molly Bish heats up again after the swimming suit she was wearing at the time of dissapearance possibly is found. Bish dissapeared from her lifeguard duties at Cummins Pond in Warren, June 27, 2000. Molly’s parents, John and Magdalen in front of a sign in their front yard.65BD9187.JPG Boston Herald Staff Photo by George Martell. Saved in Wednesday (Photo by George Martell/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
WARREN, MA – JUNE 12: A message adorns the yard of the family of missing lifeguard Molly Bish June 12, 2003 in Warren, Massachusetts. The remains of Bish, who disappeared in 2000 from her post at the rural pond where she worked, were positively identified this week. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/Getty Images)
WARREN, MA – AUGUST 2: Magi Bish paces in front of the small casket inside a full-size one which contains the remains of her daughter Molly inside the St. Thomas Aqinas Church in West Warren, MA following Molly’s wake at around 1:30 AM on Aug. 2, 2003. The family held an all night vigil at the church. “I don’t want her to spend another night alone, ” said John Bish. Molly Anne Bish (August 2, 1983 June 27, 2000) was a sixteen-year-old American girl from rural Worcester County, Massachusetts, who disappeared while working as a lifeguard in her hometown of Warren, Massachusetts. Her remains were found three years later in neighboring Hampden County after what became the largest search in the state’s history. (Photo by Bill Greene/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
PALMER, MA – MAY 28: CT State Trooper Kevin Slonski gives his search and rescue dog “Zuby” a drink of water after coming out of the woods off of W. Ware Street in Palmer, MA during a search for Molly Bish on May 28, 2003. Molly Ann Bish (August 2, 1983 June 27, 2000) was a sixteen-year-old American girl from rural Worcester County, Massachusetts, who disappeared while working as a lifeguard in her hometown of Warren, Massachusetts. Her remains were found three years later in neighboring Hampden County after what became the largest search in the state’s history. (Photo by Bill Greene/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
WARREN, MA – JUNE 3: Massachusetts Environmental Police officers gather at the W. Warren, MA fire dept. on June 3, 2003 to get their marching orders before searching the woods in Palmer for Molly Bish. Molly Anne Bish (August 2, 1983 June 27, 2000) was a sixteen-year-old American girl from rural Worcester County, Massachusetts, who disappeared while working as a lifeguard in her hometown of Warren, Massachusetts. Her remains were found three years later in neighboring Hampden County after what became the largest search in the state’s history. (Photo by Bill Greene/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
WARREN, MA – AUGUST 1: Copies of People magazine featuring the vanished women, with a photo of Molly Bish on the cover, is part of the breakfast table in her parents’, John and Magi Bish, home in Warren, MA on Aug. 1, 2001. Molly Ann Bish (August 2, 1983 June 27, 2000) was a sixteen-year-old American girl from rural Worcester County, Massachusetts, who disappeared while working as a lifeguard in her hometown of Warren, Massachusetts. Her remains were found three years later in neighboring Hampden County after what became the largest search in the state’s history. (Photo by Janet Knott/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 28: From left, Matt Guertin, Molly’s sister Heather Bish, Molly’s father John Bish, Molly’s mother Magi Bish, and Robert Curley, whose son Jeffrey was found murdered, embrace each other and hold hands during Missing Children’s Day at the Nurses Hall at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on May 28, 2003. In the center is Andrew Pryor, who lost his daughter Sarah Pryor. Molly Ann Bish (August 2, 1983 June 27, 2000) was a sixteen-year-old American girl from rural Worcester County, Massachusetts, who disappeared while working as a lifeguard in her hometown of Warren, Massachusetts. Her remains were found three years later in neighboring Hampden County after what became the largest search in the state’s history. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
WARREN, MA – JULY 1: At left, Magi Bish hugs John Bish Jr. during a candle light vigil in the Common of Warren, MA for Molly Ann Bish on July 1, 2000. Molly Ann Bish (August 2, 1983 June 27, 2000) was a sixteen-year-old American girl from rural Worcester County, Massachusetts, who disappeared while working as a lifeguard in her hometown of Warren, Massachusetts. Her remains were found three years later in neighboring Hampden County after what became the largest search in the state’s history. (Photo by Dominic Chavez/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
WARREN – 6/28/00 – Friends or family of Molly Ann Bish comfort each other in the center of Warren where search parties conglomerated and friends of Bish’s gathered to await news about the vanished 16-year-old lifeguard on Wednesday.
Staff Photo By Suzanne Ouellette. Saved in Photo 2 and Thursday (Photo by Boston Herald/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
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Then, in 2023, the DA, Joseph Early Jr., said that additional DNA testing was underway. However, the investigation is still ongoing. If you have information on Bish’s case, you should call 1-855-MA-SOLVE.
Investigators have reportedly received over 6,700 leads in the past few decades. According to NBC Boston, there are over 265 pieces of physical evidence stored in bags at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab in Sudbury.
