Arthur and June Dauwer at a makeshift memorial they set up last week on Broadway Chelsea near where Michelle Dauwer was murdered on Dec. 10, 2013. The case is still under investigation and the Dauwer’s are imploring witnesses
to come forward and not be afraid. There were witnesses, apparently, to the incident.
One year has gone by, but the clock seemingly hasn’t moved for Revere’s June Dauwer since she picked up the phone and found out her daughter, Michelle Dauwer, had been murdered on the streets of Chelsea.
June got the call on a cold night last Dec. 10, 2013. The voice on the other side said her daughter had been hurt, and June didn’t find out about the murder until she reached the hospital.
“It’s been one year and I haven’t moved forward one bit,” Dauwer said this week in an interview on the one-year anniversary. “The clock hasn’t moved one second for me since I answered the phone and learned that Michelle died. I won’t stop with this. I want the man who took Michelle’s life to know that I’m breathing down his neck and I’m not going away until I get justice for her. He will pay for what he did.”
Michelle Dauwer, who was 45 when she was killed, was believed by many – though not officially said – to be set up by her killer. Police and June Dauwer said they have the name of a suspect, but they cannot make it public.
Michelle Dauwer was allegedly at an establishment near Cherry Street in Chelsea when she was allegedly asked to go with a friend down a side street to meet someone. Some family members believe it was a setup, because someone allegedly known to Dauwer appeared in the alley and stabbed her brutally. She was seen by witnesses running from the street up to Broadway and, finally, collapsing in the intersection of Broadway and Congress around 1 a.m.
Police were called by witnesses.
Those witnesses, as alluded to above, have not come forward as of yet and many believe them to be scared to do so.
That has led to a stoppage in the case, and June Dauwer and her son, Arthur, said they want to implore witnesses to come forward.
“It’s been one year and I know less now than I did before,” said June. “I get it, but it’s not an easy thing. It’s a mother’s nightmare. I wake up every single day and cannot believe it’s been one year…They’re building a case, but unless they get further witnesses or DNA, that’s all they have to go on. Unless one of them – either a witness or DNA evidence – comes through, the case isn’t going anywhere. It’s not a cold case, but it’s not going anywhere.”
June Dauwer said the effect has been great on her family, but despite the time that has gone by, she has gotten many people who still speak highly of her daughter.
“I don’t even know why she was murdered a year later,” June said. “My family has been destroyed; everything has been taken away…I knew she was well-liked, but I have people come up to me all the time now to tell me that Michelle was happy and that she was always able to pick someone up or make them laugh even though she was dealing with her own issues. She was the glue for so many people…I’ll never forgive or forget what this person did to her.”
Michelle Dauwer had three children.
Chelsea Police are still seeking tips in the case. Anyone with any information can call Chelsea Police Detectives at (617) 466-4843. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can also call the Chelsea Police CrimeStoppers tip line at (617) 466-4880, text the word ‘CHELSEA’ and their information to TIP411 (847411).