Naman Shrestha
In the episode titled ‘She’s No Runaway’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘A Killer Among Friends,’ the primary focus is on the sudden disappearance and brutal killing of a middle school student named Maryann Measles in 1997 in Connecticut. The gruesome crime rocked the entire community to its core, leaving her loved ones devastated. The investigation went on for several years before the detectives apprehended the perpetrators. The documentary also features exclusive and in-depth interviews with Maryann’s family and friends, who talk about the case and its aftermath.
Maryann Measles Was Abducted While Waiting For Her Mom in the Car
The beloved daughter of Martin Linnell and Cynthia Larmore Measles, Maryann Jeanine Measles was born on March 22, 1984, in Sharon in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Raised in a loving household, she was always surrounded by the affection and support of her parents and sisters, Jennifer, Victoria, and Chelsea. Being devout Christians, the Measles family were regulars at the Awana Club at the Bible Baptist Church in New Milford. She also assisted and cared for the seniors at Geer Memorial Nursing Home in Canaan by serving as a junior volunteer. The free-spirited individual was a student of Schaghticoke Middle School, studying in seventh grade. She was ambitious and had big dreams for her future. The friendly and compassionate teen had a smile so bright it could light up a room.
Maryann was a seventh grader at Schaghticoke Middle School, New Milford. On October 19, 1997, the 13-year-old went to the Big Y shopping center with her mother, Cindi. While the latter was busy running errands at the grocery store, the teenager was waiting for her in the parking lot. When Cindi returned, she was shocked to discover that Maryann had disappeared. As panic set in, she frantically searched the area, but her daughter was nowhere to be found. After there was no sign of her for a few days, Cindi reported her missing on October 21. An official search was launched, while Maryann’s loved ones posted flyers throughout the town in the hopes of finding the teenager.
In their efforts to locate her, the authorities dedicated about 700 hours and chased down 60 potential leads but in vain. They also interviewed over 80 individuals looking for answers that could help the case. Days turned to weeks, then months, but Maryann remained missing until a tragic truth surfaced. On July 15, 1998, after 9 months of extensive search, her remains were spotted floating near a marina boat launch in Lake Lillinonah, Bridgewater. As per the police, the remains were enclosed in a blanket, bound by chains, and tossed in the river marina boat launch. Dental records helped the authorities confirm the remains belonged to the 13-year-old student. The autopsy suggested Maryann Measles was raped, beaten to death and drowned.
Multiple Individuals Were Responsible For Maryann Measles’ Killing
As part of the investigation, the detectives interviewed Maryann Measles’ family and friends to connect the dots regarding her disappearance. After her remains were discovered, a homicide investigation was launched and a $50,000 reward was authorized for any kind of information leading to the perpetrator/s. The investigators learned that a few months before her disappearance and murder, Maryann had started hanging out with a group of older people — Keith Foster, Dorothy Hallas, Maggie Mae Bennett, Alan Walter, Jeffrey Boyette, Ronald Rajcok, Deaneric Dupas, and June Segar.
She also reportedly had sexual relations with a couple of them, Keith and Alan. A few days prior to her disappearance, Maryann also told her mother about being sexually involved with her new friends. At the time, she had filed rape charges against one of the two men. Thus, the group began plotting an attack to scare her in order to make her back away from making the rape allegations. In 2002, Maggie Bennett decided to cooperate with the detectives and implicated the rest of her friends.
She claimed that on the fateful day of October 19, 1997, they abducted the seventh-grade student from the parking lot of the Big Y grocery store and raped her before beating her and drowning her in the Housatonic River. In his chilling interview, Alan Walter also demonstrated how he tried to scare her by holding her head under water. Finally, after five long years, by October 16, 2002, the authorities arrested and charged all eight suspects in connection with Maryann’s murder.
Keith and Alan Are Currently Incarcerated at the Same Connecticut Prison Facility
In February 2004, Alan Walter managed to avoid the death penalty by accepting a plea bargain. After pleading guilty to six counts, including felony murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit both kidnapping and sexual assault, and tampering with a witness and evidence, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison in April 2004. A couple of years later, in April 2006, Keith Foster stood trial for the charges against him. He took the stand and claimed that he was at his New Milford home with his father at the time of the murder.
However, the prosecution focused on the inconsistencies in his testimony and the previous statements he had made to the police. In the end, the jury deliberated for less than three days and on May 8, 2006, found Keith guilty of nine criminal counts, including felony murder, murder, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault, tampering with a witness and tampering with evidence.
As a result, he was sentenced to a total of 110 years in prison — 60 years for felony murder and 50 years for kidnapping, conspiracy and sexual assault. Other accomplices were also convicted and sentenced to prison for their involvement in the murder. As of today, both Keith Foster and Alan Walter are serving their respective sentences at the Connecticut Department of Correction in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
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