On April 7, 1974, ten-year-old Leigh Savoie, left his home on State Road around 11 am, carrying his shoeshine kit. Although he had been grounded that week for earning poor grades in math, his mother allowed him to shine shoes at the Suffolk Downs racetrack that day. He often did this to earn pocket money but this time he was saving up enough to buy his mother an Easter present.
His first stop that morning was a restaurant at Beachmont Square, where he grabbed a sandwich and a glass of milk. It is reported that he asked the owner to watch his shoeshine kit for a few minutes until he returned. I was unable to confirm where he was going but he never did return for his kit. According to an article in the Boston Globe, he walked out the restaurant door and was never seen again. If he did make it to the racetrack, he did not have his kit to shine shoes.
Leigh’s mother reported him missing to the police at 3 pm that day. Initially, the police suggested she wait a few more hours before they would accept the report, so she searched for Leigh herself to no avail. At 4 pm, the restaurant owner handed her his shoeshine kit.
In a Boston Globe article, Revere Detective Larry Malta describes how he searched for the boy and ran down leads in the months and years afterward. Leigh’s friends and schoolmates were questioned, and a thorough search of the area and surrounding towns was conducted. Flyers with Leigh’s description and details surrounding his disappearance were sent nationwide. Security personnel aided the investigation, questioning hundreds of jockeys, trainers, exercise boys, and van drivers in the stable area of the racetrack.
At the time of his disappearance, Leigh attended Louis Pasteur School where he was in third grade. He was 4’4”, weighing 60 pounds, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He is reported to have been wearing cut-off blue shorts, a white t-shirt with the phrase “Try It, You’ll Like It” imprinted on the front, a blue sweater, and sneakers. Leigh, affectionately nicknamed, LeeLee, was one of eight children. He was born on October 10, 1963, and would be 60 years old today (6 August 2024).
If you have any information about Leigh’s disappearance, please contact:
The Massachusetts State Police at 1-(508) 820-2121 or
Revere Police Department (Massachusetts) 1-781-286-8339
RESOURCES:
Was a Serial Killer stalking Boys in Massachusetts?[Unresolved Disappearance] [Unresolved Murder] : r/UnresolvedMysteries (reddit.com)
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/usedtobedoe/savoie-leigh-april-7-1974-t3049.html (this is where you will find several Boston Globe articles)
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