News

Search for killer continues 12 years after Quincy mother's horrific murder

The murder of Quincy mother Danielle Oliverio is disturbing.

On January 29, 2007, Danielle’s body was found in Wilmington, MA in a secluded wooded area on Ballardvale Street.

Danielle was badly beaten, strangled, and her body was set on fire. According to records, it is possible Danielle was still alive when her killer lit the flames.

There has never been an arrest.

Danielle Oliverio’s brother, Brendan Oliverio, is struggling to find answers.

>>RELATED: New England's Unsolved: The hit-and-run death of Carl Evan Yancey

I met Brendan at his home, it was not an easy interview.

Fighting back tears, Brendan told me, “I just want answers. She deserves closure, my family deserves closure. We shouldn’t have to live on, constantly questioning it. It eats everyone alive, because you don’t know. No matter what, you are always coming back to what happened that night. What happened to her. We just want to know what happened and why.”

There is another layer to Danielle’s case.

She may not have been the killer’s only victim.

In 1999, 17-year-old Brandi Sullivan was beaten to death. Her body was also found on Ballardvale Street in Wilmington.

>>RELATED: New England's Unsolved: Who killed US Marine David Cox?

Brandi’s case is unsolved.

In 2002, the body of Melissa Doherty was discovered on Route 125 in Andover. Melissa’s body was rolled in a rug and set on fire, just like Danielle.

The Massachusetts State Police told me they believe Melissa’s killer took her body to the Chelsea/East Boston area before leaving her in Andover.

Danielle Oliverio was last seen alive in Chelsea. The bodies of both Danielle and Melissa were set on fire.

Melissa’s case, like Danielle’s remains unsolved.

Investigators won’t say if they think these cases are related.

>>RELATED: New England's Unsolved: The murder of Michelet Cadet

In a statement to Boston 25 News, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office said: “Our office remains committed to solving this case. We have done forensic testing and we are hopeful that in the future we will be able to use the information we have to identify the person responsible for the murder of Danielle Oliverio.”

Brendan Oliverio misses his big sister. He is getting married soon, and he tells me it will be very difficult to handle Danielle’s absence on the happiest day of his life. He always thought Danielle would be there.

Brendan promised me, he will never stop searching for Danielle’s killer.

“She didn't deserve it. And we deserve to know what happened. I know if it was the other way around, she wouldn't give up on me. Everything I do, I do for her, “ Brendan said.

If you have any information on this case, call Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex County DA’s office at 781-897-6600.

More New England's Unsolved stories