A Massachusetts man known as the “Hamilton Strangler” has been sentenced to life in prison for the decades-old killing of a college student, bringing long-awaited closure to a case that remained unsolved for nearly 40 years.
Life Sentence in Cold Case Murder
John Carey, 66, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree murder in the 1986 killing of Claire Gravel, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
The sentencing follows a recent trial that finally resolved one of the region’s long-standing cold cases.
Breakthrough Through DNA Evidence
Prosecutors said the key break in the case came through DNA testing.
Evidence revealed that Carey’s DNA was present on a black tank top used to strangle Gravel on June 29, 1986. The match ultimately linked him to the crime decades after it occurred.
Gravel, 20, was a student at Salem State University and worked at National Braille Press at the time of her death.
Details of the Crime
According to prosecutors, Gravel was last seen in the early morning hours after being dropped off at her apartment following a visit to a pub in Salem.
She was later found dead in a wooded area near Route 128 in Beverly. The case went cold shortly after the investigation began, with no immediate suspects identified.
Case Revived Years Later
The investigation was revived years later after Carey was convicted in a separate 2008 attempted murder case. As part of that conviction, he was required to submit a DNA sample.
That sample was entered into the national CODIS database and eventually matched the DNA evidence collected in Gravel’s case, leading to his indictment in 2022.
Motive Presented in Court
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Carey killed Gravel to satisfy a sexual interest in strangulation.
He had previously been convicted of choking a woman in her home in Hamilton in the separate attempted murder case, though that victim survived.
Family Finally Sees Justice
At the sentencing hearing, Gravel’s family spoke about the lasting impact of her death and remembered her as a bright, ambitious young woman.
They described her as a “ray of sunshine” with dreams of studying law, raising a family, and exploring the world.
“The family of Claire Gravel has waited 40 long years for justice,” District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said in a statement, crediting investigators and prosecutors for continuing to pursue the case over decades.
Family members also expressed gratitude to those involved in solving the case and said they find some comfort in knowing justice has finally been served.
Ongoing Sentence
Carey was already serving a 20-year sentence for the 2008 attempted murder conviction at the time of his latest sentencing.
With the life sentence now imposed, he will remain in prison for the rest of his life.
