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Episode Twenty One | Karina Holmer: The Case That Haunts Boston with Emily Sweeney of the Globe


On the evening of June 21, 1996, 20-year-old Karina Holmer went with friends to her favorite Boston club to celebrate summer solstice - a big holiday in her homeland of Sweden. She was reported missing by friends and it was discovered that she was the woman found mutilated in the trash. Her gruesome murder remains unsolved. What happened from the last time she was seen in the early morning of June 22 until she was discovered by a man collecting bottles and cans from a dumpster behind an apartment building remains a mystery. I’ve been planning on doing this case for a long time. It has been at the top of my list of those that have most impacted me, one that troubles me. Her story is particularly sensitive because it remains unsolved.

June 22 marked 25 years since Karina was seen alive. She has been gone longer than she lived. I always remember her because June 22 is my birthday, and it was the summer before I started college in Boston. Karina's identity was pushed in the press as "The Swedish Nanny," she was the girl in the dumpster. It is a terrifying story.


Today, we are no closer to learning who did this and why. I’d settle for who. The why. Who knows. Motive is far less important now. We would like to know. Of course. But 25 years in, the likelihood that her case is cracked is slim.

June 22, 1996. The last time Karina Holmer was seen alive. I want to see her case solved. And I have a plan to try.


Photo Gallery for more about this case Crime of the Truest Kind Hosted by Anngelle Wood Online: crimeofthetruestkind.com @crimeofthetruestkind Thank you, Emily Sweeney of the Boston Globe Music in this episode by Joe "onlyone" Kowalski and Andrew King http://onlyone.bandcamp.com Promo for Murderific Podcast http://murderific.com Thank you for listening.

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The Boston Police Department Unsolved Homicide Unit continues to review the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident and is asking anyone with information relative to this investigation to contact (617) 343-4470. Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to assist this investigation in an anonymous manner.


Photos: Photos of Karina Holmer (this is really Karina, some sites post someone entirely different)

The entry of what was known as "the alley" on Boylston Place - Likely the last place she was seen alive

The dumpster behind the apartment building on the corner of Ipswich and Boylston Streets The area she was found recently

View of the Estate in the Alley that was Zanibar




Source Links

Boston Globe - Who Killed Karina Holmer? Twenty-five Years Later, Swedish Nanny’s Grisly Murder Remains Unsolved

by Emily Sweeney, June 22, 2021

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/22/metro/who-killed-karina-holmer-twenty-five-years-later-swedish-nannys-grisly-murder-remains-unsolved


Front Page Detectives - 25 Years Later, The Gruesome 'swedish Nanny's' Murder In Boston Remains A Mystery

by Nate Homan, JUne 15, 2021

Https://Www.Frontpagedetectives.Com/P/Boston-swedish-nanny-karina-holmer-killed


Boston Herald Editorial: Time to solve ’96 murder of Karina Holmer

June 16, 2021

https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/06/16/editorial-time-to-solve-96-murder-of-karina-holmer


Caught In Dot - Community Alert in Karina Holmer Murder

https://caughtindot.com/community-alert-bpd-investigators-seek-the-publics-help-to-solve-the-murder-of-karina-holmer/


WBUR Boston - Remembering Karina Holmer By Name by Philip Martin, June 24, 2019 https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2019/06/24/remembering-karina-holmer-by-name-not-just-by-the-crime-that-killed-her


Billy Jensen - Karina Holmer and Elizabeth Short by Billy Jensen (who I had NO Idea worked for the Boston Phoenix!), October 17th, 2013

http://billyjensen.com/black-blonde-hideous-sorority-hollywoods-black-dahlia-bostons-swedish-nanny


True Crime Daily - The Brutal Unsolved Murder of Karina Holmer

https://truecrimedaily.com/2015/08/07/the-brutal-unsolved-murder-of-karina-holmer


Murder In New England - Karina Holmer, The Swedish Au Pair Case -unsolved

Https://Murderinnewengland.Org/2021/01/25/Karina-holmer-the-swedish-au-pair-case-unsolved


AP - Swedish Nanny Killed In Boston, Body Cut In Half, By Carolyn Thompson, June 26, 1996

Https://Apnews.Com/Article/7e59b03dc3452d9998087d7f440a0e2b


South Coast Today - Swedish Teen Found Slain In Boston Trash, by Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press, Jun 26, 1996 https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/19960626/news/306269941

https://apps.bostonglobe.com/true-crime/half-a-body/


ARCHIVES

Boston Globe - Victim Regarded As Upbeat, Good With Children, by Ellen O'brien And Matt Bai, June 26, 1996

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290782342/8efa69a694e04acfpq/3?accountid=9675


Boston Globe - Police are focusing on man outside club in au pair's murder, Ric Kahn and Matt Bai, June 27 1996 https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290784787/5E284FE2B3BA40A5PQ/2?accountid=9675

Boston Globe - Psychologists say killing doesn't fit sadist pattern, by Brian MacQuarrie, June 27 1996

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290785129/5E284FE2B3BA40A5PQ/3?accountid=9675


Au pairs find nightlife alluring But many unprepared for dangers, realities of living in a foreign city, Kevin Cullen and Ellen O'Brien, June 30, 1996

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290782132/5E284FE2B3BA40A5PQ/5?accountid=9675


The panhandler questioned in murder of nanny, Ric Kahn and Brian MacQuarrie, July 3, 1996

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290786074/5E284FE2B3BA40A5PQ/8?accountid=9675

Au pair probers find a print Victim may have been held captive, Ric Kahn and Matt Bai, July 2, 1996

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290794029/C6407367F6B146B5PQ/7?accountid=9675


Figure in case of nanny seems to be suicide, by Ric Kahn Jan 11 1997

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/403817039/C6407367F6B146B5PQ/12?accountid=9675


Nanny slay case cited in suicide Troubled man thought he was seen as suspect, by Ric Kahn, Jan 201997

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/403811687/C6407367F6B146B5PQ/13?accountid=9675


FBI involved in Karina Holmer Murder

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/405282751/C6407367F6B146B5PQ/18?accountid=9675


Police officer who dated Karina Holmer is questioned

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/290808430/AA8292CF59794111PQ/23?accountid=9675


Boston Herald - New Crime Stats in Boston

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/06/13/new-crime-stats-sexual-assaults-on-the-rise-in-downtown-boston

Boston Globe - Homicides and shootings are on the rise nationwide. Boston is no different.


https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/03/metro/homicides-shootings-are-rise-nationwide-boston-is-no-different



Mass.Gov Blue Laws https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-blue-laws#:~:text=Massachusetts%20blue%20laws%201%20Sundays.%20Retailers%20may%20open,3%20Blue%20laws.%20M.G.L.%20c.%20136%2C%20s.%20


New York Times - Ban On Sunday Sales Ends

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/27/us/ban-on-sunday-sales-ends-today-in-massachusetts.html


Chowdaheadz - Blue Laws that still exist

https://www.chowdaheadz.com/blogs/news/why-does-massachusetts-have-blue-laws


Boston.com - Sunday Sales Ban Ends

http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/11/23/sunday_liquor_sale_ban_to_end


Dry towns

https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/01/19/massachusetts-dry-towns/


Suffolk Journal - Banning double shots and happy hour does not make drinking at bars safer https://thesuffolkjournal.com/27980/opinion/banning-double-shots-and-happy-hour-does-not-make-drinking-at-bars-safer/

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/boston/famous-people-from-boston/


Boston Herald - Boston crime rates, by Joe Dwinell

https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/05/18/boston-crime-rate-drops-23-as-gun-arrests-climb/


Area Vibes

https://www.areavibes.com/boston-ma/crime CBS Boston - Olivia Ambrose https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/01/22/olivia-ambrose-missing-boston-bar-person-of-interest-charlestown-mbta-station-bunker-hill-housing-development/


ID - Jassy Correia Kidnapped In Boston

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/jassy-correia-louis-coleman-arrested-charged-with-kidnapping-resulting-in-death


WCVB Channel 5 - Amy Lord's murder

https://www.wcvb.com/article/kidnap-stabbing-victim-taken-to-5-atms-before-death/8185525


https://www.wcvb.com/article/source-woman-beaten-violently-before-stabbing-death/8185543


MassLive - The Killing Of Jassy Correia, How a 23 Year Old's Birthday Celebration turned Deadly

https://www.masslive.com/boston/2020/12/the-killing-of-jassy-correia-how-a-23-year-olds-birthday-celebration-turned-deadly.html


WPRI - Trial Date Set for Jassy Correia's Killer

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/tentative-trial-date-set-for-providence-man-accused-of-murder-kidnapping



New England Crime Stories | A True Crime Podcast

#truecrime #podcast #truecrimepodcast

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