The body of the daughter of a woman found dead in her home 30 years ago has been exhumed after a phone call led her to believe she had been murdered.
Lori Lee Malloy, 30, lay injured, naked and lifeless on the bathroom floor of her duplex in East Providence, Rhode Island on March 7, 1993 – her own hair and bread strewn beside her.
The front door of the house was open, the bathroom faucet was running and two empty glasses were found on the coffee table in the kitchen.
For 27 years, her daughter Lauren believed the official claim that her mother died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a heart condition that can cause sudden death in some cases. But one phone call should change that.
Speaking of the mystery woman’s call, Lauren told WPRI, “She said, ‘Hey, you know that story everyone was telling you about her having a heart attack? Well that was a lie. She was murdered and the state got it wrong.”‘
The daughter of a Rhode Island woman found dead in her home three decades ago, Lori Lee Malloy (pictured), has had her mother’s body exhumed after a startling phone call led her to believe she had been murdered
For the next three years, Lauren fought to get her mother’s case reopened and was determined to solve the mystery.
Lori’s death was then being investigated as a homicide, but the state coroner – whose license was revoked in later years – found the 30-year-old died of natural causes.
Relying on the second opinion of a forensic pathologist, who said it was “unlikely” her mother died of natural causes, Lauren petitioned the state to reopen the case and filed a request for the body to be exhumed for a second time Investigation. In November 2022, the court granted both rights.
For 27 years, her daughter Lauren believed her mother had died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a heart condition that can cause sudden death in some cases. But one phone call should change that
While waiting for her mother’s body to be removed from her gravesite, she told GoLocalProv she was shocked to learn a nosy neighbor witnessed the process before she or her close family members were notified.
“When I first got the email that she was exhumed on Feb. 1, it kind of blew my mind,” she told the outlet.
“I learned that someone who lived next door to the cemetery had posted a Facebook post about what they had seen and heard and that one of the on-site officers described it as a ‘murder 30 years ago’ and had I didn’t.” a chance to notify everyone in my family.
“I have also been advised that her case has been ruled a suspicious death by the East Providence Police Department and the cause and cause of death has not been determined by the coroner.”
“It was frustrating to see a total stranger type in the word ‘murder,’ something I’d worked on proving for years without even hearing from investigators.”
Despite the shock, Lauren has patiently awaited the results of the investigation, posting frequently on social media how many days have passed. The results were not yet available in August.
Lori, 30, was found on March 7, 1993, bruised, naked and dead on the bathroom floor of her third-floor apartment in East Providence – her own hair and bread strewn beside her
For the next three years, Lauren fought to get her mother’s case (pictured) reopened and was determined to solve the case
“It’s hard to explain how it feels to be still waiting for the results of my mother’s forensic exam.” “It’s like holding your breath and not knowing when you’ll be able to breathe again,” she told 162 Days after exhuming her mother’s body to GoLocalProv.
“You’re waiting for the next punch in the pit of your stomach, you have no idea when it’s going to happen, but you know it’s going to happen. ‘Some moments it hurts, some moments you just feel numb.’
Looking for answers, Lauren started a blog and regularly posted her findings on Twitter.
“I woke up this morning with a clear thought: This is the year I solve my mother’s murder. “After 30 years she is finally getting a new autopsy, her rape equipment is being tested and she is being subjected to a real murder investigation,” she tweeted Jan. 1.
“I demand justice for her.” Happy New Year everyone.’
While she is focused on finding out more about her mother’s death, she is also working closely with other families to shed light on other unsolved cases across the country.
From 1965 to 2021, nearly 340,000 homicides and non-negligent homicides went unsolved, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report data, which was examined by the Murder Accountability Project.
Many of these cases have left investigators perplexed — Lori’s case has included claims of an inaccurate autopsy and a slew of suspicious pieces of evidence that Lauren believes could lead to a potential suspect.
In 1999, six years after Lori’s death, the doctor who performed Lori’s first autopsy had about 200 of his other reports reviewed by the chief coroner.
The review began with autopsies he performed in May 1993, about two months after concluding that Lori had died of natural causes.
In 1999, six years after Lori’s death, the doctor who performed Lori’s first autopsy had about 200 of his other reports reviewed by the chief coroner
Henry Costa, who claimed to be Lori’s boyfriend, claimed that the Rhode Island mother always struggled with drug addiction and used cocaine more frequently after Lauren was born
In 2022, Lauren had her mother’s autopsy report reexamined by a forensic pathologist, telling her in an email, “Further investigation is needed and the cause of death originally given is unlikely to be accurate.”
East Providence investigators are now awaiting updates from the coroner’s findings and guidance from the Rhode Island Attorney General.
“Everyone always says, ‘I hope you find closure here,'” she said. “I don’t think there is such a thing as a closure, but we can stand up for justice.”
Lauren remains hopeful that the state will release the results soon, but it’s unclear what results, if any, will be announced.
With the help of true crime lovers and her own deep insight into her mother’s past, Lauren has uncovered a series of clues that she believes could lead to new leads in the case.
At around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 1993, Henry Costa, who claims to have been dating Lori at the time, entered the East Providence Police Station and reported that he was “concerned for the welfare of his girlfriend,” sources say it in a police report.
Lori had dropped her daughter off at her sister’s and no friends or family had seen her for almost a week.
Costa claimed he didn’t know Lori’s address but said he could direct her to the house where Lori lived on the third floor.
Henry and responding officers found Lori lying on her left side, face down.
There were small clumps of Lori’s hair all over the apartment and slices of bread were lying around her body on the bathroom floor.
A tuft of hair was also found between the toes of her left foot, a few strands of hair in the palm of her right hand, and a “bracelet” of hair around the palm and fingers of her left hand, the original autopsy said.
Bruises were found on her upper right arm and some on her thighs.
With the help of true crime lovers and her own deep insight into her mother’s past, Lauren has uncovered a series of clues that she believes could provide new leads to the case
Looking for answers, Lauren started a blog and regularly posted her findings on Twitter – a friend of Loris’s texted Lauren saying her work was admirable
The refrigerator in the kitchen, although unplugged, was full of groceries, and there were two drinking glasses and a small container of groceries on the kitchen table. The faucet in the bathroom was left running.
And on a small table to the left of the door was an athletic shoe on which the officer was surprised to see “a large clump of light brown hair” that “looked like it had been pulled out of someone’s head,” he remarked officials at the time.
Costa was taken to the station and told police he had been with Lori for seven years and referred to her as his girlfriend.
The couple had allegedly met at Cranston’s mental health institute, where Lori was allegedly being treated for schizophrenia, Costa told police at the time.
Costa said he saw Lori just days before she died on March 1, but hasn’t heard from her since.
Costa told police at the time that Lori had allegedly struggled with drug addiction for years, but began using cocaine regularly a few times a week after Lauren was born.
“Almost all of her money went on cocaine,” he said in a police interview, adding, “I never really had a fight with Lori.” I never hit her for any reason. I had nothing to do with her death.’
Police have not ruled the case a homicide, named suspects, or made any arrests, but Lauren said she will turn the collected evidence over to investigators as they continue their re-investigation.
Relying on the second opinion of a forensic pathologist, Lauren petitioned the state to reopen the case and requested that the body be exhumed for a second look. In November 2022, the court granted both rights
While she is focused on finding out more about her mother’s death, she is also working closely with other families to shed light on other unsolved cases across the country
In a recent post on Twitter, Lauren described the emotional toll her mother’s death took on her.
“We have over 250,000 cases of the common cold in the US alone, and thousands more people go missing or die every year.” That’s the sad reality,” she wrote.
“The case of my mother touched me deeply. There were several points along the way where I needed to take a break from her and other cases.
“Ask for help when you need it and take as much time as you need to recharge.” You can’t fill someone else’s tank when your own is empty.
“Your mental, physical and emotional well-being must be your top priority.’ Never feel guilty about focusing on YOU.’