The Salem Strangler

Episode of 20/20 · September 26, 2026 · 1 h 27 min

20/20 recounts the 1986 strangling of Salem State student Claire Gravel and how a similar 2007 attack and DNA led to John Carey's conviction.

Summary

This 20/20 episode, reported by Deborah Roberts and anchored by David Muir, examined the murder of Claire Gravel, a 20-year-old Salem State College student whose body was found strangled with her own tank top off Route 128 in Beverly, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1986. Her brother James Gravel and other siblings described her as a feisty, outgoing woman from a large Irish Catholic family, while the lead Massachusetts State Police detective, bouncer Roger Belay, and forensic psychologist Joni Johnston recounted the night she was last seen at Major McLeish's bar.

Investigators examined and eventually cleared several people: ex-boyfriend Michael Jenks; Jim Kafalas, the acquaintance who drove her home; Salem police officer Jerry Verrett, named in her diary, who had a work alibi; and Beverly officer James Stapleton, whose truck was parked near the scene. Possible links to the New Bedford highway killings were ruled out. In 2007 touch DNA testing yielded a male profile from the ligature, which excluded Kafalas and Stapleton but produced no CODIS match.

In 2007 John Carey attacked Rosemary Diskin in her Hamilton home, strangling her with a tie until her 12-year-old son stabbed him. Carey claimed consensual kinky sex but was convicted of attempted murder and home invasion. In 2012 his DNA matched the Gravel profile. His ex-wife Charlene Carey described his strangulation fetish, and in a prison interview he denied knowing Gravel. At trial the defense argued the investigation was corrupted by bias and pointed to Stapleton, but Carey was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole; he is appealing.

Chapters

0:39
Return to Major McLeish's
Former bouncer Roger Belay revisits the Salem bar where he last saw Claire Gravel.
2:38
Who Claire Gravel was
Claire's siblings describe her family, personality, music tastes and life at Salem State College.
5:42
Disappearance and discovery
Claire fails to show up for work, and surveyors find her strangled body off Route 128.
15:00
Early suspects
Police rule out robbery and sexual assault and examine ex-boyfriend Michael Jenks and Jim Kafalas, who drove her home.
26:35
The funeral and the diary
The family mourns, and Claire's diary leads police to Salem officer Jerry Verrett, who had an alibi.
30:32
The pickup truck
Beverly officer James Stapleton admits his truck was near the scene but is cleared by wedding photos.
37:33
The case goes cold
Leads dry up and investigators consider but reject links to the New Bedford highway killings.
42:14
Touch DNA
A male DNA profile from the tank top clears Kafalas and Stapleton but gets no CODIS hit.
46:04
The attack on Rosemary Diskin
John Carey strangles Diskin in her Hamilton home before her son intervenes, and Carey is convicted.
1:00:08
CODIS match and Carey's past
Carey's DNA matches the profile in 2012, and his ex-wife describes his strangulation fetish.
1:07:28
Prison interview
Detectives confront Carey with the DNA evidence, and he denies involvement before ending the interview.
1:15:35
Charges and trial
Carey is indicted, and the prosecution and defense clash over witnesses, Stapleton and the touch DNA.
1:24:29
Verdict and aftermath
Carey is found guilty and sentenced to life, and the family and the detective reflect at Claire's grave.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Joni Johnston
Johnston argued that strangulation is an uncommon murder method that often holds specific meaning for the perpetrator.
“Strangulation is not a common way of murdering somebody. It isn't a gun. It isn't a knife. So it often has some specific meaning to the perpetrator”
Listen from 11:31 · Strangulation
Joni Johnston
Johnston said the victimology of the New Bedford highway killings differed significantly from Claire Gravel's case.
“In the New Bedford highway serial killer, the victims tend to be either involved in sex work or in drug or alcohol use. That's very different from Claire”
Listen from 41:50 · New Bedford highway killings
Rosemary Diskin
Diskin recounted that John Carey entered her home uninvited, put a tie around her neck and tried to strangle her.
“Put a tie around my neck and tried to strangle me. He pushed me back against the wall”
Listen from 49:30 · Home invasion
Joni Johnston
Johnston argued Carey claimed consensual sex only because the evidence that he was at Diskin's home was overwhelming.
“John Kerry claimed it was consensual sex because he knew there was overwhelming evidence that he had been there”
Listen from 58:18 · Home invasion
Charlene Carey
Charlene Carey described John Carey asking her to engage in simulated strangulation during sex using nylons or a robe belt.
“he would either take my nylons or he would grab the belt on my robe”
Listen from 1:05:07 · Paraphilia
Joni Johnston
Johnston concluded that for Carey, sexual gratification was specifically tied to strangulation.
“When it comes to John Kerry, his sex is strangulation. That's what turns him on”
Listen from 1:06:34 · Paraphilia
Roger Belay
Belay testified that on seeing Carey in court he recognized him as the out-of-place man from the bar 40 years earlier.
“When I saw him in court and I made eye contact with him, it all came rushing back to me”
Listen from 1:18:19 · Commonwealth v. John Carey
Linked moment · 1:22:59Skip to 1:22:59 using a listen link in the info box.
Rosemary Diskin
Diskin said she was certain the man who attacked her was the same man who killed Gravel.
“I knew it was the same man. I mean, why would he come to my house and try to kill me?”
Listen from 1:22:59 · Commonwealth v. John Carey
James Gravel
James Gravel said the family spoke at sentencing to convey to Carey the pain of 40 years without answers.
“It was important for our family to let him know how 40 years of agony felt”
Listen from 1:25:51 · Murder of Claire Gravel

People

In the conversation

Deborah RobertsABC News correspondent and 20/20 co-anchor who conducted the episode's interviews
David MuirABC News anchor and 20/20 co-anchor
Detective GillRetired Massachusetts State Police detective who led the original Claire Gravel investigation; now deputy chief of police at Merrimack College
Joni JohnstonClinical and forensic psychologist who studied the case
James GravelYounger brother of murder victim Claire Gravel
Rosemary DiskinHamilton, Massachusetts real estate broker who survived a 2007 strangulation attack by John Carey
Roger BelayFormer bouncer at Major McLeish's bar in Salem who testified at trial
Charlene CareyEx-wife of John Carey

Discussed

Claire GravelSalem State College student murdered in 1986
Jim KafalasAcquaintance who drove Claire Gravel home the night she vanished; later cleared by DNA
Jerry VerrettSalem police officer mentioned in Claire Gravel's diary; cleared by work records
James StapletonBeverly police officer whose truck was parked near the crime scene; cleared and later blamed by the defense
Jason DiskinSon of Rosemary Diskin who stabbed John Carey to stop the 2007 attack

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From the publisher

A young college student is found strangled on the side of the road. The case goes cold until an eerily similar attack breathes new life into the investigation and helps law enforcement catch a killer. To get ad-free episodes, early access to new true crime podcasts, and exclusive bonus episodes, subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ on Apple Podcasts. ⁠Click here⁠ to start your free trial today. Terms apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime