Aug. 5, 2025

96. The Unsolved Murder of Karina Holmer – Part 1

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An examination of the 1996 murder of Karina Holmer in Boston, Massacusetts.

Show Notes

In this episode, we begin our examination of the June 1996 murder of Karina Holmer, a young au pair from Sweden working in the United States. Karina was last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22, in downtown Boston. The next day, her torso was discovered in a trash bag inside a dumpster, about a mile from where she was last seen. She had been severed at the waist. We discuss the known facts and the evidence recovered in this still-unsolved case.

If you have any information about Karina's murder, please call the Boston Police Department Unsolved Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS (8477) or text the word "TIP" to CRIME (27263).

Additional information and resources:

The Boston Globe, "Severed body is that of au pair," June 25, 1996, p. 17

The Boston Globe, "Victim regarded as upbeat, good with children", June 26, 1996, p. 1

The Boston Globe, "Dover-based employer questioned; police trace events at loft, nightclub", June 26, 1996, p. 1

North Adams Transcript, "Clues sought in teen's slaying", June 26, 1996, p. 11

The Boston Globe, "Police are focusing on man outside club in au pair's murder", June 27, 1996, p. 1

The Boston Globe, "Psychologists say killing doesn't fit sadist pattern", June 27, 1996, p. 23

The Boston Globe, "Friend of slain nanny tells of a threat", June 28, 1996, p. 1

South Coast Today, "Nanny's letters show discontent," June 28, 1996

The Boston Globe, "Au pair's employer had new dump permit", June 29, 1996, p. 13

The Boston Globe, "Panhandler reviewed in nanny case", July 3, 1996, p. 28

The Boston Globe, "Evidence shows rope or cord was used in nanny's killing", July 11, 1996, p. 25