ROBERT PARR
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE HOMICIDE OF VANESSA MARCOTTE
Detective Lieutenant Robert Parr has been with the Massachusetts State Police for over 18 years. Prior to joining the State Police he served as a summer reserve in the beachside communities of York, Maine and Rockport, Massachusetts.
Upon entering the State Police he worked for 5 1/2 years in the uniformed division of the State Police patrolling the highways and enforcing the state's motor vehicle laws. In 2012, he joined the State Police Detective Unit- Worcester County. The State Police Detective Units are the primary investigators responsible for homicides, suicides, unattended deaths, and other major crimes. The State Police Detective Units work in conjunction with local law enforcement and hand -in-hand with the county District Attorney's office.
Det. Lt. Parr has conducted hundreds of death investigations, including dozens of homicide investigations. He has authored over 100 affidavits in support of search warrant in homicide investigations. He has attended numerous trainings in homicide investigations, cell site location information, and has testified many times in Superior Court. He was a member of SPDU Worcester when the unit received the State Police Unit Citation for successful investigations into the murder of Ofc. Ronald Tarentino Jr. of the Auburn Police Department, and the murder of Vanessa Marcotte.
He has also received the Massachusetts State Police Superintendent's Commendation and numerous additional commendations for his actions in the Vanessa Marcotte investigation.
PRESENTATION
The Investigation into the Homicide of Vanessa Marcotte
On August 7, 2016, Vanessa Marcotte left her family's residence in rural Princeton, MA, for a jog. She never returned. Several hours later, her body was discovered in the woods less than a half mile from that residence.
This presentation will review the initial response to the crime scene and the subsequent months-long investigation. Particular attention will be placed on the role of technology in homicide investigations and the critical aspect of using technology to augment, not drive the investigation.