The Murder of Deborah Lynne Bates
Deborah “Debbie” Lynne Bates
Deborah Lynne Bates: Unsolved Homicide in Chelmsford, MA
23-year-old Deborah Lynne Bates, known as Debbie, was trying to start over after leaving her abusive ex, George, with whom she shared a child. She wasn't perfect, but she was determined to build a better life.
One February night in 1993, seven months pregnant, Debbie stepped out of her apartment for a pack of cigarettes and vanished. She never came home.
Police treated her disappearance as routine, but her family knew she would never abandon her young son.
The case lay practically dormant until 2004, when a gruesome discovery that was meant to stay buried turned up on the side of the hideaway—raising questions no one was ready to answer.
If you have any information on what happened to Deborah Bates, please contact the Massachusetts State Police at the Middlesex District Attorney's office at (781) 897-6600.
Continue Debbie’s story: Listen to the podcast episode. This text has been adapted from the Murder, She Told podcast episode, The Murder of Deborah Lynne Bates.To hear Debbie’s full story, find Murder, She Told on your favorite podcast platform or listen on the player at the top of the page.
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Sources For This Episode
Mentioned in this episode: The Murder of Dora Jean Brimage
Newspaper articles
Various articles from Boston Herald, Telegram & Gazette, The Boston Globe, The Recorder, The Sun, and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, here.
Written by various authors including Aaron Curtis, Alana Melanson, Andrew Ravens, Dave Wedge, Jack Minch, Jessica Heslam, Kris Pisarik, Laurel J. Sweet, Lisa Redmond, Michael S. Rosenwald, Patrick Cook, Peter MacDonald, Peter Ward, Rebecca Piro, Richard Nangle, Robert Mills, and Tom Spoth.
Online written sources
'New England's Unsolved: Deborah Bates, missing and murdered' (Boston 25 NEWS), 5/12/2017
'Deborah Lynne Bates' (Current Obituary), 3/11/2004
'MA--Deborah Bates, 23 , Lowell, 23 Feb 1993' (Websleuths), 3/16/2004
Photos
Photos as credited above.
Credits
Research, vocal performance, and audio editing by Kristen Seavey
Research, photo editing, and writing by Byron Willis
Writing by Anne Young
Additional research by Ericka Pierce and Sarah LaFortune
Murder, She Told is created by Kristen Seavey.