Eighteen years have passed since a series of chilling crimes, including murders and a kidnapping, sent shockwaves through a South Florida community.
A retired FBI agent, who spent over a decade investigating these cases, has recently expressed his belief that these crimes are interconnected and that the perpetrator may still be at large.
In 2007, within a span of nine months, the Boca Raton Town Center Mall became the backdrop for these horrifying incidents. Randi Gorenberg, a mother of two, and Nancy Bochicchio, along with her 7-year-old daughter Joey, were brutally murdered. Another woman, referred to as Jane Doe, and her 2-year-old son were kidnapped. As reported by Fox News Digital, retired FBI Agent John MacVeigh, who dedicated ten years to investigating these cases, said, "We contacted Boca Police Department, knowing that it was something that, you know, we could possibly assist."
Gorenberg, 52, was last seen on surveillance footage leaving the Town Center Mall on the afternoon of March 23, 2007. Approximately 45 minutes later, a 911 call was made from a park five miles away, reporting gunshots and a body being ejected from a vehicle. Gorenberg's body was later discovered at Governor Lawton Chiles Memorial Park. MacVeigh noted, "She was shot and basically thrown out the car while the suspect drove away."
In a terrifying turn of events, Jane Doe and her young son were abducted from the same mall's parking lot less than five months later. MacVeigh recounted the chilling details of the incident, noting that the suspect had forced Jane Doe to withdraw $600 from an ATM. He added, "Just terrified. I mean, she's in the car with her 2-year-old, and this man has got a gun on her and threatening her."
In a peculiar twist, the perpetrator showed a degree of sympathy towards Jane Doe and her son, driving them back to the mall, blindfolding her with blacked-out swim goggles, handcuffing her, and then making his escape. Jane Doe managed to free herself and report the attack. MacVeigh commented on the audacity of the crime, stating, "It was just so blatant and bizarre because you just wouldn't think that somebody would be accosted in the middle of the day handcuffed, blindfolded forced to go to an ATM and then brought back to the same location and dropped off."
Four months later, Bochicchio and her daughter Joey were believed to have been abducted from the same mall's parking lot, forced to withdraw $500 from an ATM, and then bound and controlled using duct tape, plastic ties, handcuffs, and goggles. MacVeigh revealed, "Nancy resists. She breaks her handcuffs. We do believe that she tried to get Joey out of the car, and then he turned around and shot both of them." The mother and daughter were found dead in their vehicle in the mall's parking lot, with the engine still running.
MacVeigh, now a private investigator, identified a common thread in all three incidents: the suspect's intent to control women. He also noted the striking similarity in the time of day when the crimes occurred. He stated, "It's not a small little coincidence. There's not one or two small things. This is an accumulation of things."
In January 2007, a task force was created by detectives from the Boca Raton Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to solve the Gorenberg and Bochicchio murders. Despite the task force later disbanding, both departments continued working on the individual cases with the FBI's assistance. A massive investigation ensued, involving resources from around the country, hundreds of pieces of evidence, and countless hours of surveillance video.
MacVeigh shared, "We sent agents to the mall because they were interested in trying to find out if maybe it was somebody that had worked there." Despite the extensive investigation, all three cases remain unsolved. MacVeigh firmly believes that the crimes are interconnected, stating, "It's just so hard to believe that it's not the same person."
The Boca Raton Police Department's website acknowledges the potential connection between the Bochicchio murders and the Jane Doe abduction, stating, "While there is presently no physical or forensic evidence directly linking this case to any other investigations, there are enough similarities to lead Boca Raton investigators to believe this case is related to the August 7, 2007 Town Center Mall carjacking incident."
MacVeigh revealed that he still receives calls from investigators who continue to pursue new leads. Jessica Desir, a spokesperson for the Boca Raton Police Department, expressed optimism that technological advances in DNA testing could lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.
MacVeigh emphasized the importance of solving these cases and bringing justice to the Gorenberg and Bochicchio families. He warned that the perpetrator is still "out there probably committing other crimes," underscoring the need for individuals to remain vigilant and safe. The Boca Raton Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, and Boca Raton Town Center Mall have yet to comment on the matter.
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