DA Quinn expanding Cold Case Unit to review Bristol County missing persons cases from the past five decades

Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn’s Cold Case Unit announced today that it is further expanding its scope to include a group of “Missing Persons” who have vanished without a trace during the past 50 years.

The Cold Case Unit is actively reviewing missing person cases in conjunction with its efforts to identify all unidentified bodies, another initiative that was announced earlier this summer. “Many individuals have been missing for many years without any details of what happened to them. Although there are many circumstances where individuals go missing where no criminal circumstances are involved, it is important that any individual can be accounted for to rule out concerns by law enforcement authorities, and provide answers to family members.”

District Attorney Quinn’s Cold Case Unit has been very successful in bringing charges in homicide and violent sexual assaults cases dating back more than 30 years. Most recently, District Attorney Quinn announced the indictment of David Reed for the 2001 cold case homicide of his half-sister, Rose Marie Moniz, in New Bedford. The indictment was returned as a result of an extensive re-examination of evidence in the case by District Attorney Quinn’s Cold Case Unit. And just last year, the Cold Case Unit secured a conviction against serial rapist, Ivan Keith, who brutally accosted, assaulted and raped at least four women during the 1990s. In early 2019, the Cold Case Unit reviewed the series rapes in an attempt to develop new leads that might lead to the identification of the person responsible for these heinous crimes, which we believed were connected. Recognizing that no identification had been made in the more than 20 years since the crimes occurred, investigators explored new technologies that combined the available DNA evidence with genetic genealogy. As a result of their extensive investigation, Keith was identified as the chief suspect in a series of cold case rapes, was tracked down to Maine and was apprehended. He is now spending the rest of his life in state prison. The Cold Case Unit has also solved several other cold case homicides and rapes from throughout Bristol County.

The use of the latest forensic technologies involving DNA and genetic genealogy has provided investigators with additional tools to assist in their new Missing Persons Project and previously announced Unidentified Bodies Project. Ongoing efforts are being undertaken to not only identify unidentified bodies but also to develop a DNA profile for missing persons so that it can be used, even many years later, to assist in identifying a missing person.

“Finding missing persons and unidentified bodies is part of our ongoing Cold Case initiative. We are trying to locate each and every one of these missing persons in order to bring some closure to families and friends who have been searching for their loved ones for years. It is also likely that in some of these cases, people have gone missing as a result of foul play and criminal conduct. At the heart of our mission is bringing justice to victims. That is why we are now expanding our ‘cold case’ efforts into new frontiers,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Our Cold Case Unit has been successful in solving multiple cold case homicides and previously unsolved violent sexual assaults. The unit is now expanding its efforts to focus on missing persons and unidentified remains. If anyone has any information related to these cases, please contact us.”

District Attorney Quinn has prioritized this initiative along with the Cold Case Unit’s efforts on unsolved murders, rapes and other violent crimes. The Cold Case Unit is working with the local police, Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Unit and other law enforcement partners to provide the latest technology and forensic testing to identify unidentified bodies and human remains found in Bristol County, some of whom are homicide victims. The District Attorney’s Office has enlisted the help of nationally recognized agencies and labs who specialize in using the most modern forensic technologies for identification of human remains including genetic genealogical DNA testing. These agencies include the FBI, NamUs, the University of North Texas for Human Identification, The Doe Project, Season of Justice and Othram laboratories whose expertise and resources bring hope that these individuals can finally be identified.

Some of the missing include:

Joaquim Santos Prata was 55 years old when he went missing on Saturday, October 3, 2015. He was last seen by his co-workers at approximately 3:30 PM on a worksite on Braley Road in Freetown. At the time of Prata’s disappearance, he was living at 399 Doric Avenue in Cranston, RI. He is a Caucasian man, 6’2” and 180 lbs. with brown hair, brown eyes and a graying mustache and beard. Later on the same day, he was spotted on surveillance at the headquarters of his company, Fernandes Masonry in New Bedford leaving the premises at 6:45 PM in his work vehicle. Prata’s work vehicle was discovered later located in the proximity of his work site on Braley Road. Within the vehicle was his cell phone, wallet, and a suicide note. The note indicated that he wished to not be found. Searches of this area found no trace of Prata.

Christina Monteiro was only 19 years old when she was last observed on Tuesday, June 7, 1988, by her family in New Bedford. At the time of Monteiro’s disappearance, she was living in New Bedford and was described as an African American female, 5’3”-5’6” and 110 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. Monteiro has a distinct scar on her left eye, and tattoos consisting of initials on both arms. It should be noted that the last articles of clothing Monteiro were identified in consisted of a t-shirt and blue jeans with sneakers.

Nadine Mendonca is now 56 years old, she was last observed on Friday, July 12, 1991, at Jake’s Saloon located at 1193 Pleasant St. Fall River, MA. Mendonca was 25 years old when she was last observed. She lived at 254 Locust St. in Fall River, MA. At the time of Mendonca’s disappearance, she was described as a Caucasian female, 5’0” and 95 lbs, with brown hair, frosted tips, brown eyes, and a flower tattoo on her right shoulder. Mendonca was seen leaving Jake’s Saloon with a male companion. It should be noted that two weeks later her vehicle was found in Weld Square. Mendonca has not been seen or heard from since July 12, 1991.

Debra Marie Mello is now 52 years old, she was last observed on Tuesday, July 20, 2000, on Rt. 18 in Weymouth she exited her vehicle after an argument with her husband. Mello was 30 years old when she was last observed. At the time of Mello’s disappearance, she lived at 60 Baylies Road in Taunton. Mello is a Caucasian woman, who at the time of her disappearance was described as 5’1” and weighing between 110-115 lbs.. She has brown hair and blue eyes. She has a rose tattoo with the name “Louie” inscribed on her right shoulder. It should be noted that the last articles clothing that she was identified in consisted of a blue floral sundress, and white open-toed sandals with a large diamond ring worn on her index finger.

On January 15, 1990, Steven Lambert was a 22-year-old man working on the 84’ fishing vessel, Jupiter, from New Bedford. In the early morning hours of that day, Lambert went overboard into the ocean. Despite efforts by other crew members to rescue him, Lambert was lost at sea. Both the Coast Guard and other fishing boats participated in the search for Lambert, however, his body has never been recovered.

On June 7, 2017, Donald (“Donnie”) Flint was a 48-year-old, developmentally disabled, Caucasian man who lived in Berkley. On that date, at approximately 10 PM, he was last seen leaving his home located at 165 Padelford Street in Berkley. At the time of his disappearance, Flint was as 5’8” – 5’10” and 180 lbs., with short, partially gray hair, brown eyes, and distinctive large ears. It should be noted that Flint did not have access to a cellular phone nor knew how to operate a motor vehicle. Multiple searches of the areas around his home were conducted but to do there has been no sign of Donald Flint.

In 2007, Charles Allen (also known as Babson Maximus) was a student at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. On October 13, 2007, he was last seen in the vicinity of College Lane in Dartmouth by a homeowner at approximately 3:00 AM when he attempted to break into their residence. Charles is a Caucasian male with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance was described as 5’11” and weighing around 175-190 lbs. When last seen, Charles was wearing glasses, sneakers and black sweatpants with medium stripes down the legs. He was also observed carrying a long sleeve white t-shirt with “2007 US Open” printed on the front as he loved the sport of tennis. Charles was also wearing glasses and sneakers. During a search for Charles Allen, his vehicle, a 1999 blue Ford Expedition, was discovered abandoned on the university campus which contained his backpack and school supplies. Prior to his disappearance, Mr. Allen’s family noticed that he had become paranoid and had expressed an interest in moving to Texas or Florida. Shortly after his disappearance, it was reported that an individual fitting his description was observed approaching a commercial vehicle on Route 6 in Dartmouth. Authorities do not attribute his disappearance to foul-play but instead to his bipolar disorder and theorize that he may have hitched a ride out of New England.

Michael Sugura was a 15-year-old teenager who was last observed on Sunday, February 13, 2016, in Attleboro. Sugura is a Hispanic man, who would be 22 years old today. He was living in Attleboro at that time he went missing and was described as 5’9” and 150 lbs., with black hair, and brown eyes and acne on his face. Sugura may have traveled to Brooklyn NY and could be using the alias of Yanes-Sugura.

Marilyn Roberts was 33 years old when she was last observed on Thursday, March 31, 1988, in New Bedford. Roberts is a Caucasian woman who was living in New Bedford. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as 5’4” and weighing 110-120 lbs., with shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes and tattoos on her arms. The last articles of clothing Roberts were identified in consisted of a t-shirt and blue jeans with sneakers. She had been known to struggle with a drug addiction.

Steven Reeves is now 53 years old, he was last observed Friday, January 8, 1999, in Dartmouth, MA. Reeves was 29 years old when he was last observed. Reeves is a Caucasian male, who at the time of his disappearance was described as 5’10” and 180-200 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He worked as a fisherman on the vessel Cape Fear, which sank three miles off the coast of Dartmouth, in Buzzards Bay. His body has never been recovered.

Jennifer Mbugua was 31 years old when she was last seen in Fall River on May 27, 2014. Although originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Mbugua had been living at 230 Winter Street in Fall River. On the afternoon of May 27th, Mbugua was seen in her car which was parked next to her apartment building. She has not been seen again since that time. Mbugua is an African American woman, who at the time of her disappearance was described as 5’3” and 140 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. At approximately 3 AM on the following morning (May 28th), an employee of a Shell gas station located at 890 S. Washington Street in North Attleboro observed her car parked near a dumpster at the service station. Later, both the keys and one of Mbugua’s shoes were also found outside of the car and the car was determined to be operational. A number of searches were conducted but all found no trace of this missing woman.

Lisa Hazard was 28-year-old, Caucasian woman when she was last seen on Sunday, March 3, 2019, in the general area of New Bedford. After leaving the residence of her son’s father located at 1643 Phillips Rd, New Bedford, she was supposed to go to a drug rehabilitation center. She was never seen after that time. At the time of her disappearance, Hazard was living at 1334 South Main Street in Fall River. Hazard has been described as 5’9” and weighing 110 lbs., with long curly brown hair and brown eyes. When she was last seen, Hazard was wearing black sweatpants and brown boots. Hazard has a distinctive tattoo of the Aries zodiac symbol on her right wrist.

As some of these individuals have gone missing under suspicious circumstances, the Bristol District Attorney’s Office, working with the Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Unit and local police departments across the county, are appealing to anyone with any information regarding any of these missing person cases to please reach out to Massachusetts State Police Lt. Ann Marie Robertson at (508) 961-1918 or email Lt. Robertson at AnnMarie.Robertson@pol.state.ma.us.

Massachusetts State Police can also be contacted directly at (855) MA-SOLVE (855-627-6583) or by email at mspunresolved@pol.state.ma.us

If you feel more comfortable submitting an anonymous tip you can do so via the DA text-a-tip program. To anonymously text a tip to us, text the word “Bristol” to the phone number CRIMES (274637). Then just text your tip. You can also submit a web-based anonymous tip by going to Submit a Web Tip. The DA says that these tip programs are completely anonymous and your personal information will never be seen by our investigators or anyone else.