Hitching a Ride: The Unsolved Murder of Dana Bradley

by Darrin McGrath

On Friday, December 18, 1981, Dana Bradley's lifeless body was found in a wooded area on the outskirts of St. John's by a family in search of a Christmas tree. A manhunt began that culminated in the 1986 arrest of a suspect who confessed to the vicious attack. However, this man later recanted and no conviction was obtained. Twenty-two years after Dana's brutal death, the police are still searching for her killer.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

149 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2003

Reviews

[Chris Marsh]

This book is a must-read for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, not to mention our fellow mainland Canadians. The murder of Dana Bradley is one of the most horrifying crimes ever committed in Newfoundland, and one of the Island’s few unsolved murders. It is very noble of the author to prevent Dana Bradley from being forgotten through the years, and to encourage readers not to give up hope that this 29-year-old cold case will be solved. The book really captures an important element of Newfoundland culture: our ability to band together with friends and strangers alike, to support each other in times of tragedy. Just as McGrath writes that his book is incomplete (until the murderer is apprehended and justice is served), the still-unanswered question of who killed Dana Bradley leaves a feeling of incompleteness in the collective heart of Newfoundlanders. This is a sad story that needs a conclusive ending to bring closure to Dana Bradley’s family and all other Newfoundlanders.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad story. I picked this up recently at a used bookshop in Mount Pearl. Just hunting for some science fiction and got to chatting with, I believe, the owner of the store. Been watching a lot of cold case files, forensic files, all that other addictive true crime stuff. Anyway, I asked if they had anything about the Dana Bradley case. Darrin McGrath’s book was about as well written as one could expect, given the limited information available about this case. The facts and details about the abduction and subsequent murder were interesting and there was some new information I wasn’t aware of (New to me anyway).

This murder will be 40 years old next year. Hopefully some day it gets solved. Not much else to say really about this book. It’s informative, the local sources used provided as much information as they could without compromising an active investigation. Making this even more depressing, local singer songwriting legend Ron Hynes had written a song about Dana and the night of the disappearance and it it really seems to capture the collective bewilderment and despair of the community when you read the lyrics.

Rip Dana

[Jessica Roche · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's seems that everyone who read this book enjoyed it except me. It's probably because I hate unsolved murder cases. The case is horrifying; a 14 year old girl gets picked up hitchhiking and is later found dead, dumped in a field. I feel so bad for her poor mother. I hate that people heartlessly prank called her mom. I hate false confessions.

I felt like this book just kept repeating the same facts over and over again, which isn't entirely the authors fault as there's not many known facts about the case, and it's unsolved.

[Taylor Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a okay short read
Not the ending I was hoping for but sometimes that’s how it ends
Still really interesting and very well written

Read while at work on Tanker Sarah Desgagnes ⚓️

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for all Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans. Also, mainland Canadians should read this story of one of Newfoundland's most famous murder cases yet to be solved. Like the author stated, this book is incomplete and will remain so until the killer is caught and all involved, the family, friends and all involved with trying to solve this terrible crime, are given the closure that is so needed.