CONTENT WARNING: This article contains mentions of sexual assault. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual misconduct, help is available 24/7 via the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
On July 24, 1980, Norwood Police Chief James Curran issued an urgent public safety warning instructing parents to keep children away from wooded areas near town playgrounds.
The advisory followed a violent attack on a 15-year-old girl and verbal threats directed at two others in the woods adjacent to the Winslow School Playground on Friday afternoon.
According to police reports, an assailant described as standing approximately six feet tall with a good build, freckles covering his chest, and wearing a makeshift maroon ski mask confronted the girls near the playground’s stone wall brandishing a screwdriver. He forced the victims into the woods, where he compelled two to lie on the ground and forced the third to perform sexual acts.
The victims delayed reporting the harrowing incident to their parents until Sunday because the attacker explicitly threatened to “get them” if they spoke out. Four Norwood detectives are actively leading the ongoing investigation. Chief James Curran urged community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals loitering near parks or wooded trails.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Makarewicz Refused Lie Detector Test, Jury Told-This Day in Norwood History-March 10, 1955
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Prosecutor Claims Peter Plotted Murder-This Day in Norwood History-March 9, 1955
Peter Makarewicz, 15, of Norwood, deliberately plotted the murder of Geraldine Annese, the prosecution charged in its opening to a Superior Court jury here this afternoon. “He (Peter) planned this while lying beside his baby sister while she went to sleep sometime between 9 and 9:30 that night.” (the night of the slaying), Dist Atty.…
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Defense Bans Women Jurors in Murder Trial-This Day in Norwood History-March 7, 1955
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Few Details Emerge In Case Against Peter Makarewicz On Eve Of Trial For Murder of Geraldine Annese-This Day in Norwood History-March 6, 1955
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Peter Makarewicz Goes on Trial Next Monday in Murder of Geraldine Annese-This Day in Norwood History-March 3, 1955
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Judge Orders Most Evidence Be Shown to Defense in Geraldine Annese Murder Case-This Day in Norwood History-February 24, 1955
Goldstein To See State Exhibits Of Entire Case In an unprecedented ruling, Superior Court Judge Frank J. Donahue has ordered Norfolk County to turn over to the defense practically all its evidence against Peter Makarewicz, 15 – year – old Norwood youth scheduled to go on trial the week of March 7th in the slaying…
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‘Good Boy’ Killed Girl Next Door, Police Say-December 5, 1954
‘Good Boy’ Killed Girl Next Door, Police Say-This Day In Norwood History-December 5, 1955
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Peter Makarewicz To Confer With Counsel-November 15, 1954
Plan Defense in Peter Makarewicz Murder Trial- This Day In Norwood History-November 9, 1954
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Girl’s Parents Soothe Alleged Killer’s Folks-November 8, 1954
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Peter Makarewicz Confesses to Murder of Geraldine Annese-This Day in Norwood History-November 7, 1954
Peter Makarewicz Confesses to Murder of Geraldine Annese-This Day in Norwood History-November 7, 1954
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