NWDA includes four local cases in state-wide playing cards for tips initiative

Four unsolved cases from Hampshire County – three homicides and one missing person – are featured on decks of playing cards circulated in prisons around the state in an effort to generate tips that could help solve the cases.

“Even if it is a longshot, this project provides a glimmer of hope that someone may come forward with information that could prove helpful to the case,” said Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne.

The project is headed up by State Police Lt. Ann Marie Robertson of the State Police Unresolved Case Unit in partnership with the Department of Corrections, District Attorney’s Offices, and law enforcement agencies statewide. The decks include cases from every District Attorney’s office in the state to make up the 52 cards in a playing deck.

Captain Jeffrey Cahill, head of the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, said similar initiatives in other states have been successful, leading to arrests for crimes that previously had stymied investigators. He noted that there may be people with information that could be crucial to solving a case who were previously too frightened to pass it along, but circumstances may have changed.

Cahill and Gagne worked together to choose the specific cases to include in the project, and believe all four took place not so long ago that people who have information might still remember details that could be helpful to the investigation even if they don’t realize it.

One unsolved case is that of Michael (Mickey) Brougham, who went missing from Belchertown in June 2010.  “He’s been missing for 11 years and we feel like people might have information as to what happened,” said Cahill. “We wanted to pick cases we thought people might remember with a little gentle nudge.”

Or, in the case of people who are incarcerated, “It’s not uncommon that those serving time may know something,” Gagne said. “People talk.”

In addition to the Brougham case, three Hampshire County homicides are included in the playing decks that recently went into circulation:

• Paul Kirschner, who was found stabbed to death in Shutesbury Sept. 15, 2010;
• Jean Bones Colon, who was fatally shot outside Anthony’s Night Club in South Hadley Sept. 28, 2012; and
• William “Bill” Dziedzinski, found dead of multiple wounds in Ware on Feb. 2, 2018.

The Massachusetts State Police are also circulating a video and slideshow showing each card asking residents to share any information they have. Information can be submitted by phone at 1-855-MA-SOLVE (1-855-627-6583), by email to mspunresolved@pol.state.ma.us, or by mail to: Unresolved Cases Unit at 470 Worcester Road, Framingham MA 01702.

Pictures are attached to this story.

Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.