In 1985, 16-year-old Cathy Malcolmson left home with somewhere to be and every reason to come back. A bike ride that should have taken only minutes became an enduring decades-long mystery that spread across state lines and outlasted the careers of some of the officers trying to solve it.
I was invited to sit down with investigators who worked Cathy’s case and examine the original records they accumulated over four decades. I saw the leads they scrutinized, details that challenged the earliest prevailing theories, and footage of a prison interview that pushed me into a deep, dark rabbit hole.
There’s still one question that hasn’t changed since the day Cathy vanished: Where is she?
Anyone with information can contact the Stow Police Department’s Cathy Malcolmson task force at 978-897-4545, extension 1985, or email tipsforcathy@stow-ma.gov.
The Last Afternoon
16-year-old Catherine “Cathy” Malcolmson never showed up for work on Tuesday afternoon, August 13th, 1985. She didn’t return home that night, and by the time a Stow police officer showed up at her home on Sudbury Road, she’d missed summer school, too.
Cathy’s parents, Mary and Reverend John Malcolmson, had spent the night trying to figure out where Cathy could be, but nearly twenty hours had passed since they’d last seen her, and they still had no idea where she was.
Mary and John explained to the officer that the previous afternoon, Cathy had left the house on her white bicycle, headed to her part-time job at the IGA supermarket in neighboring Hudson. It was only a few miles away.
John said he had lunch outside with Cathy before she left. They’d talked about her bike ride, and he’d expressed some concern about her getting home after work, especially if it was dark out. But Cathy had already thought about that. Mom would pick her up when her shift was over, and they’d bring the bike home with them.
Cathy left the house at approximately 1 p.m. From Sudbury Road, she would have turned onto Route 62, which runs through Stow and into Hudson. It was a familiar route through a relatively quiet part of Massachusetts, and Cathy was accustomed to getting around on her bicycle. Nobody had any reason to think this particular ride would be any different.
According to the recollection of investigators I interviewed, Cathy’s shift began at 2 p.m. that day. Around 3 p.m., someone from the IGA called the Malcolmson home to say that Cathy hadn’t shown up.
Mary drove along Route 62, looking for Cathy or any sign of her bicycle, but she didn’t find either one. The family also began reaching out to her friends. No one knew where she was.
The officer took down a description of Cathy’s bike and clothing: a striped shirt, light blue pants, sneakers, a silver ring and two bracelets. She’d been carrying a gray pocketbook and riding her white Murray bicycle.
Meanwhile, Mary had gathered a list of Cathy’s friends and their phone numbers for the officer to call.
The list was long. Cathy was very social and loved meeting new people. She’d grown up in Stow with her parents and two brothers and was getting ready to enter her junior year at Nashoba Regional High School that fall. Like a lot of kids her age, much of her life revolved around school, friends, and testing the boundaries of the independence her parents were willing to give her.
One of those friends was Chad Perry, now Captain Perry at the Hudson Police Department.
“It was a great time to be a teenager, and this was before we had our driver’s licenses. We just rode our bikes for miles. We went everywhere on bikes. There was no cell phones, obviously. You just found each other or made plans from your house phone and then met and things like that.”
Back in the early 1980s, he and Cathy had been classmates at a small private school. They belonged to the same church youth group, went on retreats together, and spent a lot of time with the same circle of friends.
Chad remembered, “She was not shy. She was very, very outgoing, a lot of fun, always pushing the boundaries with her parents with curfews and things like that and, and very trusting, too.”
Runaway Theory
As investigators spoke with more of Cathy’s friends, they heard a rumor that she’d talked about running away after disagreements with her mother, including being grounded the previous weekend.
In a written statement, Mary described how the Friday before began with an excited phone call from Cathy about a boy she’d met. Cathy thought her mother would like him, and wanted to introduce her. But when Mary got home, Cathy was crying and wouldn’t explain why. She asked to go to her friend Jessica’s house, and Mary agreed to drive her there and pick her up by 10:45 that night.
Later, Mary learned Cathy and Jessica had gone into Hudson, against her instructions. Cathy finally came home around 11:30, claiming Jessica’s father had driven her. But the car hadn’t even pulled into the driveway.
Jessica later explained to police that Cathy was upset because she had gone on a date with a boy, then saw him with another girl. The girls spent some time walking around downtown Hudson together before running into a friend we’ll call Jeffrey. Cathy knew him from summer school. They got into his car and drove around for a while. According to Jessica, Cathy specifically asked Jeffrey not to pull into the driveway when he brought her home because she knew it would upset her mother.
Mary eventually learned that Cathy lied about who drove her home, on top of the broken curfew and the trip into Hudson without permission, so she grounded Cathy for the weekend.
To me, someone who was once a teenage girl who sometimes did things I didn’t tell my parents about, it all sounds so benign. None of this gives a ton of weight to a runaway theory.
Besides, she had a lot to look forward to. Dianne Williamson reports for the Worcester Telegram that Cathy’s family was planning a graduation party for her older brother that coming weekend and Cathy was excited about the celebration, plus she had plans to spend time at the lake with friends that Saturday. She was also expecting a paycheck from her job at the IGA. Her father remembered how enthusiastic Cathy had been about everything coming up in her life. Whatever she was doing, she was all in…Not running away from it.
Part 1 of Cathy Malcolmson’s story continues on Dark Downeast. Press play to hear the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
Catherine Malcolmson, source: Stow Police Department
Catherine Malcolmson, source: Stow Police Department
Evidence photo of Cathy’s white Murray bicycle after it was recovered, source: Stow Police Department
Evidence photo of Cathy’s white Murray bicycle after it was recovered, source: Stow Police Department
Warped rear wheel of Cathy’s white Murray bicycle after it was recovered, source: Stow Police Department
Evidence photo of Cathy’s white Murray bicycle after it was recovered, source: Stow Police Department
Search area connected to Cathy’s disappearance, source: Stow Police Department
Search area connected to Cathy’s disappearance, source: Stow Police Department
Episode Source Material
SOURCE MATERIAL
- Stow Police Department Case File Documents
- Interview with Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese, Hudson Police Captain Chad Perry & Stow Police Ret. Det. Steven Sturtevant
- John Whirty Interview by Texas Authorities, 2017
- Slaying suspect nabbed in Olton, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 1 Apr 1967
- Milford man is charged with murder, UPI via Worcester Telegram, 1 Apr 1967
- Murder suspect claimed former Ludlow youth, UPI via The Republican, 1 Apr 1967
- Stow mother wondering if dead girl is her own by Alice Anderson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 14 Dec 1985
- Missing girl’s dental records not a match by Lynne Tolman and Alice Anderson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 14 Dec 1985
- Stow girl’s dental records, body’s don’t match, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 15 Dec 1985
- Still seeking a child-safe world by Robert A. McLean, Boston Globe, 28 Sep 1986
- Missing kids’ parents hope ‘Adam’ will bring them a happy ending by Dennis Taiz, The Patriot Ledger, 30 Sep 1986
- Townsend chief quizzes inmate by Allen W. Fletcher, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 1 Feb 1987
- Pastor says Ward denied involvement in area crimes, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 2 Feb 1987
- Labeling teens ‘runaways’ may slow search by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 6 Feb 1987
- Girl’s listing as runaway may have forestalled probe, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 7 Feb 1987
- Stow police report bicycle of missing teen-ager found by Paul P. Heldman, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 9 Feb 1987
- Hudson search made for body of teen-ager by Kathryn A. Marchocki, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 10 Feb 1987
- Search for missing teen draws blank, Worcester Telegram, 11 Feb 1987
- Snow halts search for missing teen by Kathryn A. Marchocki, Worcester Telegram, 11 Feb 1987
- Missing daughter stirs mother’s faith by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram, 1 Mar 1987
- Search doesn’t find missing Stow girl, Boston Globe, 10 Apr 1987
- No trace found of missing teen by Kathryn A. Marchocki, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 11 Apr 1987
- Prayers replace celebration for missing girl by Gayle Taylor, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 18 Apr 1987
- 185 seniors get diplomas from Nashoba by Gayle Taylor, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 8 Jun 1987
- Sad anniversary arrives again at Malcolmson home in Stow by Jane Adams, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 13 Aug 1987
- No new leads in search for Stow girl, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 14 Aug 1987
- Lead was false on missing teen, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 21 Aug 1987
- Mother has hope by Gayle Taylor, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 15 Aug 1988
- Missing girl’s mom still hoping she’ll be found, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 16 Aug 1988
- Whirty v. Lynch, Massachusetts Appeals Court, 27 Mass. App. Ct. 498, 23 Jun 1989
- Witness, violent past tie man to Pryor case by Kevin Cullen and Ray Richard, Boston Globe, 8 Feb 1990
- An unidentified witness, Transcript-Telegram, 8 Feb 1990
- Lead reported in Sarah Pryor case, Associated Press via The Herald News, 8 Feb 1990
- Time only fuels mystery of teen’s disappearance by Emilie Astell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 17 Aug 1990
- Parole denied for killer by Gale M. Bradford, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar 1991
- Slain woman’s kin learn killer’s parole denied by Gale M. Bradford, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 1992
- After 8 years the anguish floods back by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 12 Aug 1993
- Abduction cases have similarities by Martin Luttrell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 15 Aug 1993
- Holly-Lent link ‘doubtful’ by Lisa Redmond, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 14 Jan 1994
- Probers in Pryor, Malcolmson cases check with New York by Martin Luttrell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 14 Jan 1994
- Innocent plea entered for Lent, Associated Press via Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 25 Jan 1994
- Abduction suspect eyed in 1977 case by Ian Donnis, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 26 Jan 1994
- Lent eyed in 1977 Townsend case by Ian Donnis, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 26 Jan 1994
- Pain takes place of missing child by George Snell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 13 Mar 1994
- No link seen to Lent in Townsend case by Ian Donnis, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 22 Mar 1994
- Case of missing girl still dogs detective by Thomas Grillo, Boston Globe, 27 Aug 1995
- 10 years later, Sarah still troubles Wayland by Eric Woodman, Boston Globe, 8 Oct 1995
- Townsend chief warns escapee may return, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 22 Feb 1996
- Townsend relieved escapee is caught by Christine Guilfoy, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 23 Feb 1996
- Hundreds attend wake in Wayland for Pryor by William F. Doherty, Boston Globe, 13 Jan 1998
- Link cited in 2 cases of missing area girls, Boston Globe, 13 Jan 1998
- Wayland site searched again for remains by Ellen O’Brien, Boston Globe, 15 Jan 1998
- Malcolmson case still unsolved by Karen Nugent, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 16 Jan 1998
- No closure for mother in Stow by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 18 Jan 1998
- Police on Pryor case travel to Texas by Judy Rakowsky, Boston Globe, 29 Jan 1998
- Kidnap suspect eyed in slayings by Thomas Farragher, Boston Globe, 10 Oct 1998
- Man questioned in cases of two murdered girls, Associated Press via The Sun-Journal, 11 Oct 1998
- Column: One more missing daughter and friend by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 2 Jul 2000
- The long road back by Bella English, Boston Globe, 14 Nov 2000
- Missing, but not forgotten by Christopher J. Marshall, Milford Daily News, 15 Jun 2003
- Memories of missing girl remain strong by Jesse A. Floyd, The Beacon Villager, 18 Aug 2005
- Whirty v. Quarterman, No. 3:07-CV-1484-B, Findings, Conclusions and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge (N.D. Tex. 6 Feb 2008)
- After 30 years, a mother’s thank you by Bella English, Boston Globe, 1 Nov 2015
- Column: When the man you believe murdered your daughter dies by Kevin Cullen, Boston Globe, 4 Aug 2022
- Task force to reexamine disappearance in 1985 by Jackson Cote, The Republican, 4 Feb 2024
- Task force to take fresh look at 1985 disappearance of teen, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 5 Feb 2024
- Stow Police receive grant to help solve decades-old case of missing teen by Katie Brace, Boston 25 News, 5 Feb 2024
- What happened to Cathy Malcolmson? by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe, 10 May 2024
- NCMEC Listing: Catherine Ruth Malcolmson
- NamUs Listing #MP6340: Catherine Ruth Malcolmson
- Police seize second car of murderer by Mary Frain, [No Publication], [No Date]
- Child Life Play Specialties ad, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Nov 1984
- Playsets are big-bucks, not monkey business by Changing Times, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Jul 1986
- ChildLife ad, Boston Globe, 6 Sep 1991
- ChildLife ad [Signature Green Paint Reference], Boston Globe, 19 Sep 1992
- Man sentenced for murder of 15-year-old girl, Associated Press via The Mexia Daily News, 11 Jul 1967
- Serial killer Lewis Lent is in prison, but questions remain unanswered for investigators by Michael Loftus, CBS News/48 Hours, 16 Mar 2025
- News Script: Whirty, WBAP-TV, 14 Apr 1967
- Slayer caught near Olton given ‘life’, Lamb County Leader, 13 Jul 1967
- Whirty v. Quarterman, Findings, Conclusions and Recommendation of the U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 6 Feb 2008
