Suvechha Sarkar
Sandra Leigh Hehir, lovingly known as Buffy, was a school teacher known for her vibrant personality. However, her meaningful life came to an abrupt halt in February 2017 when she was found dead in her home in Worcester, Massachusetts. It left her loved ones and community shaken to the core. Investigation Discovery’s ‘On the Case with Paula Zahn: Footsteps in the Dark’ delves deeper into the case and how DNA evidence helped connect the killer to the scene. It also features interviews with her best friend, beloved niece, and the officials who helped serve justice.
Sandra Hehir Was an Athletic Woman Full of Promise and Hope
Sandra Leigh Hehir, affectionately known as Buffy, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 6, 1967. She arrived as a beacon of light in the lives of her parents, Robert T. and Carol A. Hehir. She grew up in a loving household surrounded by her sisters, Colleen, Susan, and Laurie, as well as her brother, Robert. Sandra was especially close to her youngest sister, Laurie. She loved playing sports, and her athletic journey began when she was just 8. Sandra became one of the few girls who participated in the O’Brien Little League. Before graduating from South High Community School in June 1985, she actively played varsity softball and basketball.
Sandra went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Worcester State University. She played youth ice hockey and went on to participate in the Assabet Valley Youth Hockey League. She was also a basketball player at Becker College and Westfield State University. In her professional life, she served as a Teacher, Instructional Aide, and Coach at the Worcester Public Schools. Sandra worked there for over 10 years, and in 2017, she became a Teacher’s Aide at Claremont Academy Middle School. However, her life took a dark turn on February 5, 2017. According to police reports, Sandra’s downstairs neighbor, Gino, went to check on her. When he didn’t get any response after calling out for Sandra, he went into her apartment.
Sandra Hehir Was Found Dead in Her Apartment in Massachusetts
To his shock, Gino discovered Sandra lying on the kitchen floor, which prompted him to call 911 immediately. When officials arrived, they declared her dead and noted a sweater was wrapped around her head. Her remains were covered in a bluish-green liquid detergent and a powder. In the bathroom sink, they discovered two bottles of Ajax and Fabuloso. Moreover, detectives found clothing and bedding with the white powder sprinkled over it in the tub. These reportedly led them to believe that the killer tried to conceal DNA and other evidence. They also found a wallet in the sink containing Sandra’s school identification and bank card, but it had no cash.
However, police reportedly found no signs of forced entry or any other evidence pointing towards robbery. On the bed, they discovered lottery tickets and her cellphone. Investigators found a can of beer on the kitchen table, which was full, and an open can in the sink, indicating another individual’s presence. The autopsy uncovered bruises on her neck and a fractured hyoid bone. Apart from that, examiners reportedly found that there were multiple bruises all over her, due to a possible assault. As per reports, no further foreign matter was found. Her cause of death was determined to be strangulation, which was consistent with the evidence.
Genetic Evidence From the Scene Helped Officials to Crack the Case
At the beginning, detectives questioned Gino, who reportedly informed them that he went to check on Sandra because his mother was concerned that her apartment door was open. According to officials, Sandra’s friends alleged that she had expressed concerns about Gino. When he and his mother were brought in for questioning, they admitted they had a strained relationship with Sandra, claiming she was noisy. They told the police that they had texted her before midnight on February 4, 2017, because they heard her arguing with someone. Gino also claimed to have heard some strange movements in her apartment the following morning. Upon checking Sandra’s cellphone activity, investigators found that she last texted friends around 11:23 pm. It corroborated the timeline of Gino and his mother’s statements.
Hence, detectives reportedly deduced that Sandra was likely attacked between 11:25 pm and 12 am on February 4. Shortly after, her cellphone led them to a liquor store near her home, which she visited just before 10 pm on that fateful day. The CCTV captured Sandra buying cans of beer and then talking with a man, with whom she got into the car. Investigators discovered that the vehicle belonged to a woman, who identified the man in the footage as her brother, Ismael. On that fateful night, the siblings gave Sandra a ride home from the store. Then, the sister dropped Ismael off in another part of town. Ismael and his sister’s accounts were verified through license plate readers, which photographed her car whenever it passed them.
A breakthrough finally arrived when the crime lab identified DNA on the beer can and the clothing found at the scene. It was entered into the database and turned out to be a match to a case back in the 2000s, when a woman was sexually assaulted. Two of the three suspects in that case had been arrested, but the DNA profile was consistent with the uncharged person, Jose Melendez. Police discovered he had several outstanding arrest warrants and eluded the law using aliases like Jose Segura and Jose Alvarado. A neighborhood canvass revealed his residence opposite the liquor store that Sandra visited on February 4. Ultimately, Jose was arrested in March 2017 and charged with murder. During the questioning, he denied knowing her or having any involvement in the crime.
Jose is Incarcerated at a Massachusetts Prison Facility Today
Jose initially pleaded not guilty, and his defense reportedly insisted that he had denied knowing Sandra or being present in her apartment. On the other hand, the prosecution emphasized the strength of the DNA evidence found at the scene, which was a match to him and hence linked him to the crime. Ultimately, Jose avoided a trial by entering a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter in Worcester Superior Court on January 18, 2023, and was sentenced to 17 to 19 years in prison. He also received credit for the 2,135 days he had already served. Following the sentencing, the assigned District Attorney had mentioned, “This plea will hopefully bring some measure of closure to Ms. Hehir’s family.” As of writing, Jose is serving his time at Old Colony Correctional Center in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
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