Bathing Suit Tested In Missing Lifeguard Case

SUDBURY, Mass. -- Worcester County District Attorney John Conte says Tuesday he will discuss possible developments in the Molly Bish disappearance case which has haunted central Massachusetts for close to three years.

State investigators are testing a bathing suit found in the woods, hoping for a possible break in the search for the missing teenage lifeguard, who disappeared from her job at a Warren, Mass., pond in June of 2000.

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The bathing suit was discovered a few miles from the pond. NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the bathing suit is at the State Police Crime Lab in Sudbury, where investigators are performing tests to obtain genetic material from the suit which they can compare to Bish's DNA profile.

"The bathing suit in the woods bears similarities to hers in its color and size and make. I have a strong feeling about this that it very well may be her bathing suit. We don't know for sure, but of all the things that have been turned in to the state police, I feel strongest about this," said Bish's father, John.

The suit is a dark blue and white Nike bathing suit like the one she was wearing when she disappeared from Comins Pond after her mother dropped her off at work. All that was found was her lunch, sandals and radio.

Unamed sources told the Boston Herald that the crotch of the swimsuit had been torn out. It was found near the town line between Palmer, Mass., and Ware, Mass., several miles from Comins Pond in Warren, Mass. It was found by a hunter near the Nenameseck Sportsmen's Club last November. He told a friend about the discovery, and the friend then notified police.

Monday, state police searched the area and said they didn't find any other evidence. The area is 150 yards from the road and there are no trails. It's mainly used for hunting.

Bish's parents learned about the swimsuit discovery last week. They said they are eager for a full-scale search of the area, although the discovery has shaken them.

"We've talked about a funeral, what would that mean. We've never talked about a funeral. We don't even say the word murder. We say abduction. We've looked at words that we've not even said in this weekend," said Bish's mother, Magi.

A full grid search of the area won't get under way for a few weeks as the team that performs those searches is out of state.