Wareham murder victim among unsolved cases highlighted on playing cards

State law enforcement officials hoping to find new leads for cold cases have compiled a deck of playing cards featuring the victims of unsolved cases — including one from Wareham. 

Devyn Murphy, the 16-year-old victim in an unsolved 2002 murder case, is featured on the three of spades. Each card includes a photo of the victim and a fact summary: “On October 13, 2002, the victim was at a house party at 4 Weaver Street in Wareham. There was an altercation outside, and he was fatally stabbed.” 

Murphy died at Tobey Hospital hours after he was stabbed once in the abdomen.

He lived in Onset and was a junior at Sandwich High School who hoped to be a chiropractor. 

Despite the number of potential witnesses at the party, no arrest has been made in the boy’s death. 

The cards will be distributed to people in state prisons, who may have and share relevant information about a case, state police officials say. 

“The victims in this deck were someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, child, or partner,” State Police Colonel Christopher Mason said. “Much time may have passed since the crime that took them from their loved ones, but they, and the victims of all our unresolved cases, are not forgotten. Our detectives and forensic specialists across the state work daily to solve cases like these. Often, after years of dedicated work by investigators, we find that we just need a little more information to solve the case.”

Massachusetts officials were inspired to create the Unresolved Cases playing cards in part due to the success of a similar effort in Polk County, Florida. In less than three months after law enforcement released cold case playing cards, law enforcement received more than 60 tips and solved four cases.

Each playing card asks those with any information about the cases featured to call 1-855-MA-SOLVE (855-627-6583), email mspunresolved@pol.state.ma.us or mail to 470 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01702.

For more information, or to watch a video that includes all the cards, click here.