Unsolved Murders 1994 Joseph Savitch & Louis Alexander Masardis, Maine
Joseph Savitch (59) of Swansea, and Louis D. Alexander (60) of Somerset had lengthy criminal records and were well known to law enforcement in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Joseph owned a home in Masardis Maine, and returned yearly for hunting. The house became the location they would return to after committing break-ins in Maine. Many of the home burglaries involved thefts of safes that would be transported to the remote location where they would break them open.
In 1994, Joseph, Louis, Jonathan Vendituoli (38) and Timothy O'Connell (62) were all indicted for a string of burglaries in Aroostook County Maine. Jonathan and Timothy plead guilty, served their and time and were released. Louis appeared for his initial court appearance. In February 1994 Joseph and Louis were reported missing to the Masardis Police Department.
On August 10, 1997, a hunter discovered the remains of Joseph and Louis in a shallow grave about a mile from the residence Joseph and Louis were residing at in Masardis. It took three (3) months for DNA to positively identify them, and their deaths were ruled homicides and remain unsolved.
Louis was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery; Joseph was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River.
There is strong belief the men were shot to death by organized crime rivals.
Joseph Savitch
Joseph was found guilty in 1962 of assaulting a sailor outside a city bar. In 1967, he was sentenced to two (2) years in the House of Correction after he plead guilty to assault and battery. In 1987, Joseph was one (1) of ten (10) people indicted in connection with a plot to transport $5 million worth of marijuana from Florida to the by using a senior citizens’ tour bus.
Louis Alexander
In 1970 Louis was shot in the stomach by a Westport Massachusetts police officer while breaking into Head of Westport Post Office. Police believed thieves were after the post office safe, the shooting occurred when Louis attempted to flee the scene. After being hospitalized, then released on bail, Louis fled the state in February 1972; he was recaptured in August of 1972 in Alabama, after committing house break-ins in Mississippi and returned to Massachusetts. Eventually he was convicted in the post office break and was sentenced to 9 to 12 years.
Joseph Savitch (59) of Swansea, and Louis D. Alexander (60) of Somerset had lengthy criminal records and were well known to law enforcement in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Joseph owned a home in Masardis Maine, and returned yearly for hunting. The house became the location they would return to after committing break-ins in Maine. Many of the home burglaries involved thefts of safes that would be transported to the remote location where they would break them open.
In 1994, Joseph, Louis, Jonathan Vendituoli (38) and Timothy O'Connell (62) were all indicted for a string of burglaries in Aroostook County Maine. Jonathan and Timothy plead guilty, served their and time and were released. Louis appeared for his initial court appearance. In February 1994 Joseph and Louis were reported missing to the Masardis Police Department.
On August 10, 1997, a hunter discovered the remains of Joseph and Louis in a shallow grave about a mile from the residence Joseph and Louis were residing at in Masardis. It took three (3) months for DNA to positively identify them, and their deaths were ruled homicides and remain unsolved.
Louis was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery; Joseph was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River.
There is strong belief the men were shot to death by organized crime rivals.
Joseph Savitch
Joseph was found guilty in 1962 of assaulting a sailor outside a city bar. In 1967, he was sentenced to two (2) years in the House of Correction after he plead guilty to assault and battery. In 1987, Joseph was one (1) of ten (10) people indicted in connection with a plot to transport $5 million worth of marijuana from Florida to the by using a senior citizens’ tour bus.
Louis Alexander
In 1970 Louis was shot in the stomach by a Westport Massachusetts police officer while breaking into Head of Westport Post Office. Police believed thieves were after the post office safe, the shooting occurred when Louis attempted to flee the scene. After being hospitalized, then released on bail, Louis fled the state in February 1972; he was recaptured in August of 1972 in Alabama, after committing house break-ins in Mississippi and returned to Massachusetts. Eventually he was convicted in the post office break and was sentenced to 9 to 12 years.
Cornell Cemetery
Gravesite of Thomas Cornell Jr.
2023 Photo
Unsolved Murder 1673 Rebecca Cornell Portsmouth, R.I.
Family Relation to Lizzie Borden
Over 200 years prior to Lizzie Borden's 1892 murder case, Lizzie Borden's six (6) times-great-grandfather, Thomas Cornell Jr., was convicted and put to death for the murder of Rebecca Cornell, his mother.
Death of Rebecca Cornell 1673
Rebecca (Briggs) Cornell (73), widow of Thomas Cornell Sr., resided in the family homestead with her son Thomas Cornell Jr. and his family which includes his 2nd wife Sarah, two daughters and four (4) sons from a prior marriage with Elizabeth (Fiscock) Cornell. The sons are Thomas, Stephen, Edward and John. Also residing in the home was a lodger, Henry Strait (21) and a Narragansett Indian named Wickhopash (Harry) who was a servant.
On February 8, 1673, Rebecca Cornell claimed she wasn't feeling well and declined to have dinner with the family and remained in the 1st floor bedroom. An hour and half later, her grandson Edward went to inquire if she wanted something else for dinner besides what was served.
Edward called for his grandmother and received no response; Thomas then entered the room and saw the badly burned body close to the fireplace and recognized the shoes as his mothers. The valance of the bed, and the upper portion of the room curtains were also burnt.
The coroner initially declared her death an "Unhappie Accident". The death was ruled accidental, and the body was prepared for burial.
In all likelihood Rebecca’s burned body was likely from a coal or pipe ashes catching her clothing on fire. Rebecca had been sitting in front of the fire in her bedchamber, smoking her pipe while the family had dinner.
John Briggs (1609-1690), Rebecca's brother
Two nights after burial, Rebecca's brother, John Briggs, who was residing in Newport R.I. formerly from Dartmouth, claimed he had two (2) spiritual visitations from Rebecca as he slept.
John testified on February 12, 1673 how he thought he felt something heave up the bedclothes twice, and thought somebody had been coming to bed, where upon he awaked, and turned himself about in his bed, and being turned, he perceived a light in the room, like to the dawning of the day, and plainly saw the shape and appearance of a woman standing by his bedside. Briggs claimed he was frightened and cried out "In the name of God what art thou", the apparition answered, "I am your sister Cornell", and twice said, "see how I was burnt with fire", and she plainly appeared unto him to be very much burnt about the shoulders, face, and head. John Briggs dream or vision of Rebecca would not be easily dismissed.
Based on this evidence, Rebecca’s body was exhumed and reexamined. An old wound not previously discovered an odd wound was found on her stomach. Her death was declared a homicide.
Ghosts were taken seriously. Ghosts were spirits of the dead who always had a reason for their appearance – usually to correct an injustice that would not be detected by other means.
Thomas Cornell Jr. (1627-1673) Convicted & Sentenced to Death
A new version of events began to take shape, and Thomas Cornell was arrested and charged with murdering his mother. There was no evidence presented that Thomas had caused Rebecca's death in anyway.
At trial, witnesses painted an unpleasant picture of life in the Cornell home. Two (2) witnesses testified that Rebecca had contemplated killing herself, either by stabbing herself or drowning herself. Further, she had told some, she planned to leave the home and move in with her son Samuel in the spring.
Thomas was convicted and sentenced to death and hanged on May 23, 1673, at Miantonomi Hill in Newport R.I., the current site of the WWI memorial.
At the time of Thomas's death sentence, his wife Sarah was pregnant. Sarah gave birth to a daughter and was named Innocent Cornell as a testimony of her husband's innocence.
Innocent Cornell (1673-1720)
Innocent married Richard Borden (1671-1732) Richard Borden is the paternal 4x great-grandfather of Lizzie Borden.
Thomas Jr.'s Last Request
Thomas’ last request was to be buried in the family plot next to his mother, Rebecca in the Cornell Cemetery. A judge denied that request but granted permission to be buried at an unmarked grave but not within twenty (20) yards of Rebecca's grave. Thomas's remains are buried under the current driveway at what is today the Valley Inn. Thomas's remains were confirmed by using ground-penetrating radar.
The exact location of Rebecca's grave is also a mystery. Rebecca is believed to be buried in the Cornell Cemetery near the grave of Thomas Cornell Sr. There is no evidence of either grave.
The Other Suspects - Charged & Acquitted
In this time period there was unrest among the Native Americans and the European settlers. An Indian named Wickopash possibly had motive for the crime. He was on the losing end of a criminal action for grand larceny brought on by Thomas Cornell Jr. in June 1671. In 1674 Wickopash was tried for Rebecca's murder, but later acquitted.
In 1675 William Cornell (Thomas Jr.'s brother) presented evidence that Sarah (Thomas' wife) had a role in Rebecca's murder. She too was acquitted. She remarried to David Lake and had more children with him.
The Cornell Estate
In Rebecca’s will, all of her estate was to be equally divided among her children, whom she listed by name. All of her sons and daughters received a part of Rebecca’s property, such as clothes, valuable objects, and even one of her daughters, Mary, inherited her mother’s gold ring. All the children except for Thomas were mentioned in Rebecca’s will. Even Thomas’s first wife was mentioned in her will. Unfortunately, Thomas’ wife died a couple years after Rebecca signed her will.
The original house burned down in 1889; it was reconstructed and built in the same style. Today it is the Valley Inn. The property and house were held by the Cornell Family from 1646-1957. In 1957 The Rev. John Cornell sold the property to the Occhi Family.
Cornell Family Cemetery 25 Burials (16 verified)
The cemetery is located behind the Bay View Condo Complex on West Main Road, specifically behind Condo #281. The Town of Portsmouth has designated it as Historical Cemetery #36.
Thomas Cornell Sr. (1593-1655) (w) Rebecca Cornell (1600-1673)
The exact location of Rebecca's grave is also a mystery. Rebecca is believed to be buried in the cemetery near the grave of Thomas Cornell Sr. There is no evidence of either grave.
Attempt to Pardon Thomas Cornell Jr. 2024 Request Denied 2025
In 2024 Clifton Humphrey, a distant cousin, of Thomas Cornell Jr. attempted to have Rhoe Island Governor Dan McKee issue a pardon. Thomas was his 7 times great aunt's father.
Thomas Cornell Jr. was convicted on a ghost story also known as Spectral evidence.
In April 2025, Governor McKee denied the request for a pardon of Thomas Cornell Jr.
Gov. McKee denied the pardon on for several reasons:
1. The package presented to his office “is not a complete enough record of events to warrant a pardon.” Additionally noted, Thomas was convicted and executed prior to Rhode Island’s statehood.
2. “It is unlikely that a pardon given by a modern governor of Rhode Island could effectively absolve a person accused of a crime committed under the laws of another country (here, Great Britain).” A pardon is “an extraordinary measure that should only be given if it would have some positive effect.” The request “did not indicate what, if any, positive effect this pardon would have” on his family or Cornell himself.
In closing, Governor McKee acknowledged his fascination with “how different evidentiary standards were at the time. I am grateful that the American criminal justice system no longer considers ‘spectral evidence’ of a crime and that Rhode Island no longer has the death penalty,”
Family Relation to Lizzie Borden
Over 200 years prior to Lizzie Borden's 1892 murder case, Lizzie Borden's six (6) times-great-grandfather, Thomas Cornell Jr., was convicted and put to death for the murder of Rebecca Cornell, his mother.
Death of Rebecca Cornell 1673
Rebecca (Briggs) Cornell (73), widow of Thomas Cornell Sr., resided in the family homestead with her son Thomas Cornell Jr. and his family which includes his 2nd wife Sarah, two daughters and four (4) sons from a prior marriage with Elizabeth (Fiscock) Cornell. The sons are Thomas, Stephen, Edward and John. Also residing in the home was a lodger, Henry Strait (21) and a Narragansett Indian named Wickhopash (Harry) who was a servant.
On February 8, 1673, Rebecca Cornell claimed she wasn't feeling well and declined to have dinner with the family and remained in the 1st floor bedroom. An hour and half later, her grandson Edward went to inquire if she wanted something else for dinner besides what was served.
Edward called for his grandmother and received no response; Thomas then entered the room and saw the badly burned body close to the fireplace and recognized the shoes as his mothers. The valance of the bed, and the upper portion of the room curtains were also burnt.
The coroner initially declared her death an "Unhappie Accident". The death was ruled accidental, and the body was prepared for burial.
In all likelihood Rebecca’s burned body was likely from a coal or pipe ashes catching her clothing on fire. Rebecca had been sitting in front of the fire in her bedchamber, smoking her pipe while the family had dinner.
John Briggs (1609-1690), Rebecca's brother
Two nights after burial, Rebecca's brother, John Briggs, who was residing in Newport R.I. formerly from Dartmouth, claimed he had two (2) spiritual visitations from Rebecca as he slept.
John testified on February 12, 1673 how he thought he felt something heave up the bedclothes twice, and thought somebody had been coming to bed, where upon he awaked, and turned himself about in his bed, and being turned, he perceived a light in the room, like to the dawning of the day, and plainly saw the shape and appearance of a woman standing by his bedside. Briggs claimed he was frightened and cried out "In the name of God what art thou", the apparition answered, "I am your sister Cornell", and twice said, "see how I was burnt with fire", and she plainly appeared unto him to be very much burnt about the shoulders, face, and head. John Briggs dream or vision of Rebecca would not be easily dismissed.
Based on this evidence, Rebecca’s body was exhumed and reexamined. An old wound not previously discovered an odd wound was found on her stomach. Her death was declared a homicide.
Ghosts were taken seriously. Ghosts were spirits of the dead who always had a reason for their appearance – usually to correct an injustice that would not be detected by other means.
Thomas Cornell Jr. (1627-1673) Convicted & Sentenced to Death
A new version of events began to take shape, and Thomas Cornell was arrested and charged with murdering his mother. There was no evidence presented that Thomas had caused Rebecca's death in anyway.
At trial, witnesses painted an unpleasant picture of life in the Cornell home. Two (2) witnesses testified that Rebecca had contemplated killing herself, either by stabbing herself or drowning herself. Further, she had told some, she planned to leave the home and move in with her son Samuel in the spring.
Thomas was convicted and sentenced to death and hanged on May 23, 1673, at Miantonomi Hill in Newport R.I., the current site of the WWI memorial.
At the time of Thomas's death sentence, his wife Sarah was pregnant. Sarah gave birth to a daughter and was named Innocent Cornell as a testimony of her husband's innocence.
Innocent Cornell (1673-1720)
Innocent married Richard Borden (1671-1732) Richard Borden is the paternal 4x great-grandfather of Lizzie Borden.
Thomas Jr.'s Last Request
Thomas’ last request was to be buried in the family plot next to his mother, Rebecca in the Cornell Cemetery. A judge denied that request but granted permission to be buried at an unmarked grave but not within twenty (20) yards of Rebecca's grave. Thomas's remains are buried under the current driveway at what is today the Valley Inn. Thomas's remains were confirmed by using ground-penetrating radar.
The exact location of Rebecca's grave is also a mystery. Rebecca is believed to be buried in the Cornell Cemetery near the grave of Thomas Cornell Sr. There is no evidence of either grave.
The Other Suspects - Charged & Acquitted
In this time period there was unrest among the Native Americans and the European settlers. An Indian named Wickopash possibly had motive for the crime. He was on the losing end of a criminal action for grand larceny brought on by Thomas Cornell Jr. in June 1671. In 1674 Wickopash was tried for Rebecca's murder, but later acquitted.
In 1675 William Cornell (Thomas Jr.'s brother) presented evidence that Sarah (Thomas' wife) had a role in Rebecca's murder. She too was acquitted. She remarried to David Lake and had more children with him.
The Cornell Estate
In Rebecca’s will, all of her estate was to be equally divided among her children, whom she listed by name. All of her sons and daughters received a part of Rebecca’s property, such as clothes, valuable objects, and even one of her daughters, Mary, inherited her mother’s gold ring. All the children except for Thomas were mentioned in Rebecca’s will. Even Thomas’s first wife was mentioned in her will. Unfortunately, Thomas’ wife died a couple years after Rebecca signed her will.
The original house burned down in 1889; it was reconstructed and built in the same style. Today it is the Valley Inn. The property and house were held by the Cornell Family from 1646-1957. In 1957 The Rev. John Cornell sold the property to the Occhi Family.
Cornell Family Cemetery 25 Burials (16 verified)
The cemetery is located behind the Bay View Condo Complex on West Main Road, specifically behind Condo #281. The Town of Portsmouth has designated it as Historical Cemetery #36.
Thomas Cornell Sr. (1593-1655) (w) Rebecca Cornell (1600-1673)
The exact location of Rebecca's grave is also a mystery. Rebecca is believed to be buried in the cemetery near the grave of Thomas Cornell Sr. There is no evidence of either grave.
Attempt to Pardon Thomas Cornell Jr. 2024 Request Denied 2025
In 2024 Clifton Humphrey, a distant cousin, of Thomas Cornell Jr. attempted to have Rhoe Island Governor Dan McKee issue a pardon. Thomas was his 7 times great aunt's father.
Thomas Cornell Jr. was convicted on a ghost story also known as Spectral evidence.
In April 2025, Governor McKee denied the request for a pardon of Thomas Cornell Jr.
Gov. McKee denied the pardon on for several reasons:
1. The package presented to his office “is not a complete enough record of events to warrant a pardon.” Additionally noted, Thomas was convicted and executed prior to Rhode Island’s statehood.
2. “It is unlikely that a pardon given by a modern governor of Rhode Island could effectively absolve a person accused of a crime committed under the laws of another country (here, Great Britain).” A pardon is “an extraordinary measure that should only be given if it would have some positive effect.” The request “did not indicate what, if any, positive effect this pardon would have” on his family or Cornell himself.
In closing, Governor McKee acknowledged his fascination with “how different evidentiary standards were at the time. I am grateful that the American criminal justice system no longer considers ‘spectral evidence’ of a crime and that Rhode Island no longer has the death penalty,”