Home / Crime and Justice / Tank Top Killer Gets Life Sentence After 40 Years
Tank Top Killer Gets Life Sentence After 40 Years
9 Apr
Summary
- John Carey received a life sentence for strangling Claire Gravel in 1986.
- DNA evidence from a tank top linked Carey to the murder weapon.
- Carey was already in prison for another violent crime when charged.
John Carey, 66, has been sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Claire Gravel, a Salem State University student. The conviction followed a nearly four-decade-long investigation into Gravel's death, which occurred on June 29, 1986. Gravel was last seen alive in the early morning hours after a night out with friends. Her body was discovered two days later in the woods.
Investigators successfully linked Carey to the crime through DNA evidence recovered from a tank top, identified as the murder weapon. This crucial forensic breakthrough allowed the case to be solved after decades of dormancy. At the time of his arrest for Gravel's murder, Carey was already incarcerated, serving time for a 2008 conviction related to an attempt to strangle another woman.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker acknowledged the family's prolonged wait for justice, stating, "The family of Claire Gravel has waited 40 long years for justice." The resolution of this cold case offers answers and closure to Gravel's loved ones, thanks to the persistent efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors.
