Seven years is a long time to wait for answers. For the family of Sandra Crispo, a 54-year-old woman from Hanson, Massachusetts, that wait took a painful turn on May 5, 2026, when Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz confirmed that human remains found along Route 3 North had been identified as Crispo through DNA testing conducted by the FBI.
Crispo had last been seen on August 7, 2019, when a relative dropped her off at her home after her car had been taken in for repairs.
Two days later, on August 9, her family reported her missing after they could not reach her and found that she was not inside her house. From that point forward, her whereabouts remained completely unknown.
Her daughter, Laina McMahon, described her mother’s disappearance at the time as something almost impossible to make sense of. Sandra simply vanished.
She had no cellphone, no computer, no known health problems, and no apparent reason to leave. She had recently relocated from Quincy to Hanson and was deeply involved in the daily care of her three grandsons, making her sudden absence all the more alarming to those who knew her.
A Hunter’s Discovery Sets the Investigation in Motion
On March 6, 2025, a hunter stumbled upon part of a human skull in a wooded area near the breakdown lane of Route 3 North, between exits 13 and 14 in Plymouth.
The discovery prompted law enforcement to search the surrounding area extensively. The remains were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the FBI was subsequently brought in to assist with forensic testing. After careful analysis, DNA from the skull was confirmed to match Sandra Crispo.
Cruz described the years-long investigation into Crispo’s disappearance as extensive and exhaustive, involving searches, interviews, forensic testing, and thorough reviews of records.
Hanson Police, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, and additional law enforcement partners all played roles in the effort to find out what happened to her.
Family Pushes for Justice After Years of Uncertainty
For McMahon, the confirmation brought a wave of emotions that were difficult to put into words. She told reporters that receiving the call from investigators felt surreal, a moment of disbelief after years of not knowing.
While the news is devastating, she expressed a determined hope that identifying her mother’s remains will open the door to finding out who is responsible and pursuing criminal accountability.
The family had done everything in their power to keep Sandra’s case visible over the years.
Posters bearing her image appeared in front yards across the South Shore, and the family invested in a large billboard along Route 3 in Hanover, appealing to anyone who might have seen something or known something to come forward.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Sandra Crispo or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance to contact Hanson Police at 781-293-4625 or Massachusetts State Police at 508-894-2600.
McMahon’s message to the public is simple: if you remember anything, say something. Her mother deserves answers.
