FULL REPORT: The Identification of Sandra Crispo
Plymouth Mass-Authorities officially confirmed today, May 5, 2026, that the human remains discovered in Plymouth last year belong to Sandra Crispo, a 54-year-old Hanson woman who vanished in August 2019. This identification ends a seven-year missing person search but initiates a new, intense phase of a death investigation.
The Discovery and Forensic Process
The breakthrough in this cold case occurred on March 6, 2025.
- Location: A hunter scouting for deer antlers found a portion of a human skull on a deer trail in a heavily wooded area. The location was near the breakdown lane of Route 3 North, situated between Exits 13 and 14 .
- The Search: Following the discovery, the Massachusetts State Police and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office exhumed the skull and conducted a wider sweep of the woods with cadaver dogs, recovering additional skeletal remains that had been exposed to the elements for several years.
- DNA Match: Due to the condition of the remains, the DA’s office requested advanced forensic testing from the FBI. Using the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) database, officials confirmed a definitive match to Sandra Crispo’s DNA profile today.
Timeline of the Disappearance
Sandra Crispo “vanished” under highly suspicious circumstances on August 7, 2019.
- Last Sighting: Sandra’s car was in the shop, and a family member (her son-in-law) dropped her off at her home on Spofford Avenue in Hanson. On the way, she was captured on surveillance video at a local gas station buying cigarettes.
- The Scene: On August 9, 2019, her daughter, Laina McMahon, went to check on her after she failed to answer her phone. She found:
- The back door unlocked.
- Lights and air conditioning running.
- Her beloved dog, a Labrador named Clarence, inside without food or water.
- Her purse, phone, and shoes still in the house.
- Recent Disclosures: In late 2024, family members revealed to investigators that they had found small droplets of blood on the floors and walls of the home shortly after she disappeared, and neighbors reported hearing a loud argument the night she went missing.
Theories and Investigation
While the District Attorney has not yet released a cause of death, the investigation is being treated as active and ongoing.
- The “Gold Bar” Theory: In previous interviews, Sandra’s daughter expressed suspicion that her mother may have been targeted due to an inheritance. Sandra’s father had passed away two years prior to her disappearance, leaving behind a substantial estate that reportedly included $1 million in gold bars.
- Community Impact: For years, “Missing” posters of Sandra were a common sight across the South Shore. The family even funded a large billboard on Route 3 in Hanover—less than two miles from where her remains were ultimately found.
Current Status
No arrests have been made. The State Police and Hanson Police are currently re-examining evidence from the 2019 disappearance in light of the location where the remains were found.
Information Needed: Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen a vehicle pulled over or suspicious activity along Route 3 North near the Hanover/Plymouth line in August 2019 to contact the Hanson Police at 781-293-4625 or the State Police assigned to the DA’s Office at 508-894-2600.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct a geographical error regarding the distance between Hanson and Plymouth. They are not bordering towns; the distance between them is approximately 16 miles.
About the Author
Ever since the story broke about the skull being discovered in Plymouth, I had a feeling it was Sandra. That’s unfortunate. God bless the family.
Why does this story keep mentioning Hanson being a bordering town? It isnt. Hanson is much further than “2 miles” from plymouth. Get your facts straight.
We need to correct the geography here. Hanson and Plymouth are not bordering towns; they are approximately 16 miles apart. Stating they are ‘2 miles away’ is factually incorrect. We should refer to Hanson as a fellow Plymouth County town, but note that Pembroke and Kingston sit between them.