BRIMFIELD, Mass. (WHDH) — A push to re-open the Holly Piirainen murder case kicked off Friday as police seek to gather tips in an effort to crack the decades-old cold case.
The remains of 10-year-old Holly were found in the woods in Brimfield on Oct. 23, 1993, three months after she was taken from her grandparents’ cottage in Sturbridge while her family was on vacation. Her case still remains unsolved 24 years later.
The new campaign comes after a recent arrest in the 25-year-old Lisa Ziegert case. Authorities said a DNA match led them to Gary Schara, the man they say killed Ziegert in 1992.
Schara’s DNA will now be run against other unsolved murder cases like Holly’s.
The Piirainen family is now asking for the public’s help to finally put the case to rest. Holly’s grandmother Maureen Lemieux and aunt Carla Jackman helped launch the new tip campaign on Friday, called Hope for Holly.
“Somebody knows something, it’s important. Give us peace of mind,” said Lemieux. “We have to have hope. We’ll never give up. So we are hopeful, hopeful that something will come of it today.”
A $40,000 reward is being offered for information that helps solve the case. A hotline has been set up for anyone to send information about the case. Anyone can call 413-505-5993.
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