Almost eight years ago, I held my first interview for my book about the Stacey Burns murder. It was not an official interview. I did not bring a recording device, and after fifteen minutes, I stopped trying to write notes and simply listened. The “interview” took place on a large logging/construction barge in a quiet cove on Lake Winnipesaukee. That day, I was convinced of two things. First, this murder case would be solved very quickly. Second, I had the ability to write a true crime book, despite never having been an investigative reporter nor an official journalist.

Obviously, I was wrong about the first thing as we approach the ninth anniversary of Stacey’s murder. There is nothing more that can be said about that. Everyone reading this has his/her own opinion about why there has not been an arrest, but the sad fact is there hasn’t.

I’ll admit that the second thing I believed after that first interview is quite troubling these many years later. Perhaps, I shouldn’t have been the one to write this book. I know there are those who are disappointed that my book about this murder has not been published. Perhaps someone with more journalistic experience, the type that would have no qualms abut confronting anyone connected with the case and shoving a microphone in their face might have been able to get to the truth, even when the police seem unable to.

My approach to the book was naïve. I mean, how hard could it be to simply interview people, find out the truth, and then tell the story? If the arrest had happened as I expected it to happen, early on, maybe my book would have been an accurate chronicle of this horrible event. Unfortunately, instead of the years producing an inarguable truth, they have produced an incredible array of theories, many of which have been mentioned in this  blog, but none of them have resulted in any concrete action on the part of the police, at least as far as I can see.

To those who are disappointed that my book hasn’t exposed the killer, my apologies. I will continue to try to keep some degree of pressure on anyone involved to produce some results, but the conclusion of this story depends not on me ( a true crime neophyte) but on law enforcement. We’re told they continue to work diligently on this case. In just fifty days, we enter the tenth year since Stacey was killed. Hopefully, the diligence will pay off fairly soon.

Duke