Vera E. Hallums, 45, was found murdered in her Springfield, Massachusetts apartment on April 20, 1995. She had been beaten, tied with electrical cords, and strangled. A mother of four and identified as Black/African American, Hallums’ death was the first in a series of killings that later terrorized the city.

The case remained unresolved for years and led to the wrongful conviction of another man who served 18 years in prison for the crime. The true killer, handyman Alfred Gaynor, later confessed as part of a plea deal while already serving life sentences for other murders. Gaynor admitted Hallums was his first victim, saying he had slept on her floor, then attacked, robbed and killed her. He was sentenced to another life term for her murder.

Does anyone have memories of Vera, her family, or information from Springfield in 1995 that could add context to her life or the investigation?