Debbie Melo - 20 - missing since 6/20/2000

[Doyle]

As his sister's disappearance fades into cold case files, Richard Whalley says the fear of hearing she is dead has given way to a desperate hope to hear anything at all - to learn that police have a body, dead or alive.

``It's been four years now,'' Whalley said as he stood next to a vigil for his sister, Debbie Melo. ``People don't realize this is an everyday thing for my family. It doesn't go away.''

Melo, a 30-year-old mother of two from Taunton, disappeared June 20, 2000, after an argument with her husband, Luis Melo, 36. Police have interviewed Melo several times but have made little progress in the case.

Without a body, there is little they can do. Whalley said investigators listen to the family's frustrated concerns and continue to struggle with their own questions about why Luis Melo never assisted in the intense search for his missing wife.
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=32577

[pugsley]

Praying they have finally found her, although it could be anyone. This is only 20 miles from Debbie's home. If it's not her, her story deserves a bump.




http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/B50227/


PLAINVILLE, Mass. -- Homicide detectives were investigating the discovery of human remains found in a wooded area behind a truck stop near the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border.

A passer-by discovered the remains Monday evening and contacted Plainville police, said spokesman David Traub of the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, which was overseeing the investigation.

The remains appeared to have been at the scene a long time and were believed to be human, Traub said. Investigators were unsure of the gender and cause of death.

"We're at such a preliminary stage that any speculation would be premature," Traub said.

The remains were turned over to a state medical examiner.

The site where the remains were found is near U.S. Route 1, south of its interchange

[findcarrie]

Thanks for posting this information about Ms. Melo. I wondered what ever became of the prime suspect, Luis Melo (husband of Debbie Melo)? I saw where he was going to get remarried but there was some speculation because he wasnt legally separated/divorced from Debbie. May the answers be found for this young woman and for the remains that were located. I'm thinking of the Melo family and all those who are missing.

bump

[pugsley]

Tonight, Chronicle (channel 5) looks at a case that's confounded detectives for more than a decade.

We'll also look at the baffling disappearance of Debbie Melo, and learn why questions swirl around her husband.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/3861722/detail.html

[mysteriew]

A few faded yellow ribbons can still be found near Memorial Park, where Debbie Melo played as a child, and along the highway where she was last seen. And Melo's family still puts up missing posters with her picture, hoping that someone will remember seeing her and report the information to police.

But the family feels no closer to finding her than they did the day she disappeared: June 20, 2000.

"It's heart-wrenching knowing that we don't have anything to go on. We don't have any type of closure, nowhere to go visit when we are thinking of her. All we can do is say a prayer," said Patty DeMoura, Melo's younger sister.

Melo's husband, Luis Melo, has said he last saw his wife when she got out of their car after an argument. He says he left her on the side of Route 18, near the South Weymouth Naval Air Station, and drove away, and when he circled back a short time later she was gone.

Luis Melo has "cut off all contact" between his wife's family and his children, Alyssa, now 18, and Luis Jr., now 15, said DeMoura.

"I've sent them cards, but they've been sent back to me," she said. "I've also lost a niece and nephew, and they were just as close as my children to me."

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/nation/12003555.htm

[CaliKid]

Four years. This is such a sad case. I think the husband is guilty, but with all the time that's passed, unless her body is found and somehow points to him as her murderer, he'll walk free.

I hope the kids when they grow up reestablish contact with their mother's family. That in itself is the second tragedy.

[pugsley]

Luis Melo, the "husband" of Debbie Melo (whom already has a live-in girlfriend) got stopped on his way to work yesterday morning by some guys he did not know. They beat him & knifed his ears (??) & threatened him. His girlfriend has also been threatened.


He wants Debbie found "so he doesn't have to go through this anymore."

Poor baby.

I bet Debbie would be found if Luis helped look for her.



This was on Whdh channel 7 news, but there is nothing about on the internet, so sorry no link.

[Bobbisangel]

What state is this case from? I see the city but can't find what state. I've gotten where that is the first thing I check is what state a missing person is from. I check because you can almost predict how good LE is in each state and even some citys after checking these missing persons sites day after day.

The husband wouldn't help with the searches in the beginning....he wants to get married without ever knowing what happened to his wife??? Well, LE needs to get busy and get the goods on the wonderful husband. Was this one of those cases where foul play wasn't suspected in the beginning? Another wife that just took off!!! This husband sounds like a real winner. I hope they get him....sounds like someone will if LE won't. Good for them.

[pugsley]

What state is this case from? I see the city but can't find what state. I've gotten where that is the first thing I check is what state a missing person is from. I check because you can almost predict how good LE is in each state and even some citys after checking these missing persons sites day after day.

The husband wouldn't help with the searches in the beginning....he wants to get married without ever knowing what happened to his wife??? Well, LE needs to get busy and get the goods on the wonderful husband. Was this one of those cases where foul play wasn't suspected in the beginning? Another wife that just took off!!! This husband sounds like a real winner. I hope they get him....sounds like someone will if LE won't. Good for them.

This happened in Massachusetts, Bobbisangel. He has never helped, ever, in the searches. They have nothing on him unfortunately, but they pretty much think he did it, probably based on his actions (lack of) afterwards. He never grieved, never looked, just moved on like nothing happened. Had another baby with some one else. Yep, he's a winner.

[murraydwyer]

I saw on the news this weekend that Debra Mello's husband was beaten up...apparently he and his girlfriend have been receiving threats. Not sure whether there was anything in the Patriot Ledger (www.southofboston.com), but it was on television news...just can't remember which station....probably Saturday night.

[altruist1000]

Http://tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?nTAUNTON - Luis Melo, whose wife Debbie Melo who disappeared five years ago, told police he was assaulted by an unknown number of men yesterday morning.

Http://tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15305183&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=8
TAUNTON - Police investigators are trying to corroborate an attack earlier this week on a man whose wife disappeared five years ago under suspicious circumstances.
ewsid=15296340&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=8

Although I personally never met Debbie Melo, thoughts of her enter my mind often as this injustice continues & hope the perpetrator is haunted until they confess.

[aussiegran]

Has anyone heard more on this case ,I have just joined you I am from australia

[pugsley]

Has anyone heard more on this case ,I have just joined you I am from australia


Nothing new on Debbie. Found some history on Luis though.

Luis Melo case — Massachusetts



In 1996 in Bristol County, Massachusetts Debbie Melo asked for and received a restraining order against her husband Luis. In an affidavit before the court she wrote that Luis made threats to do bodily harm to himself, her or both. She was afraid of what he might do to her or their daughter.

In 2000 Luis Melo reported to the police that Debbie disappeared after they had a roadside argument. Debbie Melo has never been seen or heard from since. The last person to see her alive was Luis Melo. No report of using credit cards, no phone calls, and no attempts to reach either of her two children. Luis Melo, for good reason, should be more than a person of interest to the criminal justice system.

In 2004 the live-in girlfriend of Luis Melo appeared in a civil court to get a restraining order because she and her daughter were afraid of Luis Melo. She has good reason to be afraid because Melo had beaten her in the past. Court records document that Melo is a dangerous man who should be feared. Earlier, in a Bristol County court, Melo had pled guilty to assaulting his girlfriend.

For that previous assault Luis Melo received no jail time and was placed on probation. Luis Melo is a man that many believe may have murdered his wife. He is a man with a history of violent abusive behavior. And he is a man with no respect for the court system.

Apparently domestic violence awareness month must slip by, year after year, unnoticed by the Bristol County District Attorney and this judge. The Bristol County District Attorney and this particular judge are not alone in their ignorance. Restraining orders or orders of protection rain down on this nation like confetti at a parade.

Is there anyone other than the judge who really thinks a restraining order is going to protect this woman from Melo? Is this really the best that the District Attorney and the judge can do for this woman and her child? After decades of intervention is this as far as we have come?
http://www.ejfi.org/DV/dv-40.htm

[aussiegran]

my freind ROXANNE and her 2 small children ,were murdered by the husband and father ,she had a restraining order out on him ,so they arent worth a damn here either,maybe if these judges had a daughter in a situation similar he might be more responsible with his sentencing and Debbie and roxanne would be alive today.My thoughts are with the grandparents .it must be a nightmare worrying how he is treating the children.

[PrayersForMaura]

Ok... this is a cold case, but Debbie Melo went Missing in June of 2000 in Boston.

A body was found between a truck stop in South Carolina in August 2000.
Seem the body was probably decomposed.

All that was listed was height, hair color, weight, etc.

This matches her description, and the artists sketch somewhat matches but not completely.

I think it's a match.
Cause of death apparently strangulation.
Husband suspected, and that could be a way he could've killed her.

I want to contact authorities, but want to see what you sleuthers think first.

http://www.sara.org/modules.php?name=Missing&ct=miss&md=details&id=15

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/112ufsc.html


News story:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/06/25/taunton_womans_disappearance_unsolved_after_five_y ears?mode=PF

[LButler]

possible. you would think the rose tattoo and name would answer this one pretty quickly.

[PrayersForMaura]

possible. you would think the rose tattoo and name would answer this one pretty quickly.
I'm thinking because the body was probably there for a while, that there was only remains, which is why there wasn't more of identifying clues or eye color listed, and why there were clay type sketches listed, but i could be wrong.

[aussiegran]

Bumping .another lying abusive POS who says he left G/F on the side of the road .:banghead: :banghead:

[Bobbisangel]

Bumping .another lying abusive POS who says he left G/F on the side of the road .:banghead: :banghead:



I know. I thought of Christine Rudy when I read that this guy left his wife on the side of the road. This guy has a history of violence and admits that they had an argument the last time he saw her. He probably didn't dump her out on a road anymore than Christine's husband did. Well, they were probably dumped off the side of a road somewhere but not when they were alive.

I'd bet money this husband murdered his wife. If LE can't get enough evidence to send this guy to prison for life then I hope the "mysterious men" do a great job crippling him up so that he suffers for the rest of his life. He deserves nothing less.

[PonderingThings]

PrayersForMaura I put the pics side by side and they are very close.

In addition, the time frames match and so do the available stats.

I think you SHOULD suggest it as a possible match!

[PonderingThings]

PrayersforMaura did you contact the authorities about your find?

You can do it by email at

mluce@darcosc.com

I got the email address from the Sherrif's site about this Jane Doe:
http://www.forensicartist.com/reconstruction/dcso.htm

[pugsley]

PrayersForMaura I put the pics side by side and they are very close.

In addition, the time frames match and so do the available stats.

I think you SHOULD suggest it as a possible match!


It does look like a possible match. The timeline is questionable. He did not report her missing for 24 hrs. It takes 30 hrs to get back & forth from SC to MA. Unless of course he took a trip after he reported her missing. I wonder if they had a close eye on him after he filed the report. Hmm.

[PonderingThings]

Since he was in control of making the report, and giving the details of when she was last seen alive, those hours could have been "adjusted". Also he said he left her after a "road side arguement". Where was the road he said he was on?

A mixture of truth and fiction?

[pugsley]

Pondering: she was (by his account)dropped off at Rte 18 in Weymouth around 3pm. I believe I read her sister spoke with her while they were driving, inviting them over or something. Debbie declined.

Charlie Project is stating the report was filed 24- to 3 days. That's a huge gap.

I sent an e-mail to someone I have been in touch with before asking about the timeline. I meant to ask about the dental work too, I will do that if they reply.

PS: I'm betting pure fiction.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/2331021.html

Apparently authorities are testing DNA on another woman to try to match to the Unidentified woman.

[murraydwyer]

Pondering: she was (by his account)dropped off at Rte 18 in Weymouth around 3pm. I believe I read her sister spoke with her while they were driving, inviting them over or something. Debbie declined.

Charlie Project is stating the report was filed 24- to 3 days. That's a huge gap.

I sent an e-mail to someone I have been in touch with before asking about the timeline. I meant to ask about the dental work too, I will do that if they reply.

PS: I'm betting pure fiction.

Glad to see people remembering Deborah Melo...I don't know her and have never met anybody in her family, but she allegedly was dropped off about a mile and a half to two miles from where I live. Pugsley...was really glad to see your (by his account) it is unfortunate that that is all the police have to work on in this case and so many others. Route 18 is a busy roadway. There is a major hospital about a mile away...and all kinds of businesses. If I am remembering correctly the area where it was described that Mrs. Melo got out of the car is the least populated. In fact a good portion of that area is (or was) an area fenced because it used to be the South Weymouth Naval Air Station....a person walking any distance in that area would certainly have been noticed.......

[aussiegran]

Bumping -:( almost 6 years now .

[murraydwyer]

Melo's husband claims abandonment

By Terence J. Downing, Enterprise staff writer
TAUNTON — Six years after Debbie Melo vanished after an argument with her husband, Luis, on Route 18, he has divorced her on grounds of abandonment and remarried, according to his lawyer and court records.

Attorney Edwin T. Scallon, who represents Melo and his new family, said Melo believes Debbie simply walked out on him and their two children.

Scallon, who handled the divorce, said Luis Melo filed a petition in Bristol Probate and Family Court on grounds of abandonment.

Judge Prudence J. McGregor granted the divorce Feb. 28, records show.

http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2006/06/16/news/news/news04.txt

[Wisteria Vine]

bumping to keep this thread going and Debbie's memory alive

You are not forgotten, Debbie.

Someday there will be answers and justice.

WV

[Wisteria Vine]

I know it's been awhile, but as I was thinking about the case, I seem to remember that the West Bridgewater, MA police department found a human hand on Scotland Street. That is a fairly rural part of the town, next to the highway, and had been essentially undeveloped until recently. There was a small article in the local newspaper about it, but no further information was ever published.

I'm wondering if that has any connection to the Debbie Melo case - although I'm sure if it had, there would have been stories about it by now.

[Wisteria Vine]

It's coming up on the anniversary of Debbie Melo's disappearance and I just wanted to keep this thread alive.

Does anyone know if there have been any updates at all?

Debbie, you're in my thoughts.

WV

[Wisteria Vine]

Bumping for Debbie's memory. It's a month away from the eighth year anniversary.

[Wisteria Vine]

Another year gone and still no word on Debbie Melo. I contacted the local newspaper a few days ago and asked if they were going to run a follow-up story for the eight-year anniversary, but they said they weren't sure. No story today. :confused:

[gaia227]

I watched 48hrs last night about Michelle Harris and her husband was arrested and convicted with no body, no weapon, no physical evidence. He was bascially tried on his actions. He didn't help look for her, he was living with another woman within days of her disappearence, etc. His conviction was recently over-turned due to a new witness coming forward.
I imagine LE in this case is waiting and hoping they find her body and physical evidence to link him to her death. It is always so frustrating because it seems so obvious who murdered her. He just dropped her off on the side of the road and never saw her again....yeah right.

[meggilyweggily]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/melo_debra.html

[sad friend]

Short story in the taunton gazette 6/21/08 her brother and wife holding signs with her picture. I find it amazing after all this time and nothing being done. Unless theres an investigation going on behind the scenes. I miss her every day.

[murraydwyer]

Still in search of answers
Family keeps missing woman’s memory alive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Gerry Tuoti, Staff Writer
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jun 21, 2008 @ 09:50 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taunton —


Richard Whalley spent Friday the same way he has spent every June 20, trying to raise awareness of the disappearance of his sister, Debbie Melo.

Eight years to the day after the disappearance of Debbie Melo, the Taunton woman’s family is still waiting for answers.

“It’s been eight long years, and we’re no closer now than we were on day one,” Whalley said.

Whalley and his wife, Robin, spent the day holding signs for Melo on the Weymouth roadside where she was last seen. Friday evening, they moved to the Taunton Green to raise awareness of Melo’s disappearance in her home city.

“This helps a little bit,” he said. “It just keeps us going.”

Melo, a 30-year-old mother of two, disappeared without a trace on June 20, 2000. Her then-husband, Luis Melo — who didn’t report her missing until more than 24 hours later — told police he dropped her off on the side of Route 18 in Weymouth after the troubled couple had an argument.

Within weeks, Luis Melo, who has since remarried, severed contact with the missing woman’s relatives and was never present during any searches or vigils, the woman’s family said.

Whalley, who keeps a shrine to her in his yard, said this time of year is always difficult for him. The shrine, surrounded by flowers, features an illuminated picture of the missing woman.

Robin Whalley said she hopes Melo is still alive, but doesn’t expect that she is.

more at: (http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1470889775/Still-in-search-of-answers)