RWU Justice Studies Series Examines Interdisciplinary Roles in Solving Cold Cases

BRISTOL, R.I. - Roger Williams University's School of Justice Studies kicked off its year-long speaker series this week with an example of why interdisciplinary learning and powerful combinations are critical in any field. The event brought together future justice professionals, forensic scientists, anthropologists, sociologists, journalists, and communicators to explore how their field of study impacted the investigation of one of New England's most haunting cold cases.

The featured speaker, Maureen Boyle - director of the journalism program at Stonehill College and an award-winning former crime reporter - recounted her coverage of the 1988 New Bedford highway serial killings. At the time, 11 women went missing, and nine bodies were found along highways in southeastern Massachusetts. Boyle detailed how limited technology, scarce resources, and fragmented jurisdiction slowed investigations. She discussed the positive and negative roles local media played in the case, from helping drum up suspect leads to being the reason the District Attorney at the time lost his reelection. She also emphasized how strong community ties and persistence of investigators and reporters has helped keep the case alive even to this day.

Boyle emphasized the importance of critical skills that bridge both Journalismand law enforcement: strong communication and analytical skills, clear writing, careful interviewing, and building trust with sources. "Both professions do the same thing for different reasons," she told students. "We talk to people, gather facts, and build timelines."

For RWU students, the lecture highlighted how pairing justice studies with communication disciplines, through the additional lenses of Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology, prepares them to confront complex societal problems. Assistant Dean of Justice Studies David Lambert noted that the case touches many areas of study that RWU offers - from policing, Criminal Justice, and Forensic Scienceto media ethics and public policy - illustrating how interdisciplinary learning equips RWU graduates to address real-world challenges.

Though the New Bedford case remains unsolved, Boyle expressed confidence that advances in forensics and the persistence of investigators will eventually bring answers. Until then, she urged students to remember the victims and to recognize the responsibility of professionals across fields to seek truth and justice.