The murder trial of Marvin “Skip” McClendon Jr., accused of killing 11-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay more than 35 years ago, is currently underway in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The case hinges on DNA evidence found under the victim’s fingernails, with prosecutors arguing that it belongs to McClendon. This is the second trial for McClendon, as the first ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. Tremblay’s body was found in a trainyard in Lawrence in 1988, a day after she was reported missing. She had been stabbed in the neck, and authorities initially ruled out several suspects before turning their attention to McClendon, who was arrested in 2022 based on DNA evidence.
Prosecutors presented evidence that they claim shows McClendon’s knowledge of the crime, suggesting that a left-handed person like him was responsible for Tremblay’s murder. They argued that McClendon knew details of the crime during his arrest and believed he had eluded capture for over three decades. DNA evidence found under the victim’s fingernails was said to exclude 99.8% of the male population, indicating a strong link to the perpetrator. The prosecution painted a picture of McClendon as someone familiar with Lawrence, having frequented bars and strip clubs in the city, and living nearby at the time of the killing.
McClendon’s defense attorney, Henry Fasoldt, countered the prosecution’s claims by arguing that there is no concrete proof that the DNA found belonged to his client. He also raised doubts about the handedness of the perpetrator, suggesting that it could have been a right-handed person rather than a left-handed one. Fasoldt highlighted McClendon’s lack of a meaningful connection to Lawrence, other than living nearby, and expressed concern for his client’s health and age. McClendon, now 77 years old, moved to Alabama in 2002 and is facing the stress of a second murder trial after many years.
The victim’s mother, Janet Tremblay, passed away in 2015, but surviving family members have been attending the trial to seek justice for Melissa. The case has stirred emotions and brought back painful memories for those who knew the young girl. Both the prosecution and the defense made their closing arguments to the jury, urging them to carefully consider the evidence presented before reaching a verdict. The deliberations began on Monday, and the fate of Marvin McClendon Jr. now rests in the hands of the jury as they weigh the evidence and testimony from the trial. The community awaits the outcome of this long-awaited trial, hoping for closure and justice for Melissa Ann Tremblay.
