Mommy's a Mole: Unravelling the Joan Webster Murder & Other Secrets in a CIA Family

by Eve Carson

“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is exercised under cover of law, and with the colors of justice.” - U.S. v. Jannotti, 673 F.2d 578, 614 (3d Cir. 1982). The sun trickled through the dense tangle of the spring’s budding branches. Karen Wolfe Churgin walked her dogs on April 18, 1990, on her remote wooded property on Chebacco Road. The veterinarian spotted a white sphere obstructing a drainage ditch. Churgin’s home sat on top of the bluff overlooking Chebacco Lake, and the lower-wooded basin was often flooded with water. The sparsely inhabited wilderness in Hamilton, Massachusetts attracted hikers and bikers, but was also a secluded setting known for criminal activity. From a distance, she saw an object, a white sphere. When she reached to dislodge it, she reeled back in horror. She immediately called the police. “I saw something in the woods that looked like a punched-in volleyball,” Karen told the Beverly Times on April 25, 1990. “I looked closer and it was a human skull. It had suture-like zigzagged lines. Those are unique to human skulls.” Officer Hatfield was the first to respond, and the initial conclusion determined the discovery was, indeed, a human skull. Hamilton Police Chief Walter Cullen arrived at the scene next and photographed the find. The Massachusetts State Police Crime Prevention and Control Unit, CPAC, dispatched Cpl. Dennis Marks to take charge of the crime scene. Local police sent the skull and a nearby black boot to Hunt Memorial Hospital to examine, but nothing else surfaced in the initial cursory search of the surrounding area. Notices went out to departments to assist the resident force, and names poured in to compare the cranium to known missing persons. Joan Webster’s name appeared on the list, but the resting spot was more than thirty miles from the long-speculated crime scene at Pier 7 in Boston. “Of course, it’s being checked out, but the location doesn’t seem to correlate. Circumstances pointed to her being taken out in a boat and dumped at sea. This is something way up north and doesn’t tie to anything.” -George Webster Harvard Crimson April 28, 1990

424 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2013

About the author

Eve Carson was born and raised in Danville, Illinois. She is the middle child with an older sister and younger brother. The close-knit family faced life’s hurdles together, a source of strength through the many obstacles families face in life.

Eve graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Industrial Management and Economics. She worked for General Motors and IBM in her early career. Eve married Joan’s brother Steve on January 5, 1980 and was the only non-blood relative in the immediate family when Joan disappeared. She has two daughters, who sadly never knew their Aunt Joan.

Ms. Carson has published multiple articles and given numerous interviews. Articles about the Joan Webster murder have appeared in Crime Magazine, The Journal of Forensic Research, The Precious Hearts Foundation Magazine, The Journal of Forensic and Crime Investigation, Medium, and Unsolved Magazine. In addition, Eve presented aspects of Joan’s case to the International Forensic Research Conference twice, the Stu Taylor program, and on The Whistleblower television series.

Today, she resides in the Midwest and perseveres for justice. Eve continues her writing and works as a consultant in an unrelated field.

Reviews

[megHan · Rating 4 out of 5]

On November 28, 1981, two days after Thanksgiving, Joan Webster goes missing from Logan Airport. Eve is Joan's sister-in-law (married, at the time, to Joan's brother) and these are the events that occurred within the family and throughout the investigation since her disappearance, plus the research that Eve did on the case in the hopes to find out who the real killer is.

Included inside are documents and photos. Also, Eve included a few other documents in the envelope the book came in and informed me that if I needed to see anything else, she'd be glad to share them with me.

She is angry and understandably so - not only did she lose a close friend (Joan), but also had her husband's family destroy her family and her relationship with her daughters. You can feel her anger in her writing and can't help but become angry yourself.

She jumps around a lot while collecting all of her facts, which sometimes makes things a little confusing. She also inserts conversations and sometimes it's hard to decipher whether they really happened or are alliteration based on testimony. (In the end, she does explain these.)

This is an incredible story. I really felt sorry for this lady, her children, the man sentenced for this murder ... and for Joan. Eve and her children were not only mistreated by her husband and his family, but also the counselors who refused to look at the proof (photocopies of her daughter's journal) she provided, refused to believe her, to even talk to her, or really help these kids, this family. The behavior of the children is absolutely shocking as well. The fact that police, ADAs, special agents, etc were all able to get away with such a gross miscarriage of justice is really disheartening. These are the people we are supposed to trust. I can only hope that this book leads to the powers-that-be getting all the evidence into one place and going over it with a fine tooth comb like Eve did. And I pray that eventually her relationship with her daughters can be fixed.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. (She actually sent me a physical copy and, I must say, it is a very pretty book.)

[McGuffy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true story, written by one who lived it. Author Eve Carson writes about what happened in her own family, and her necessary search for justice.

The story actually begins many years ago. It is Thanksgiving weekend, 1981, and Joan Webster is traveling through Logan Airport. However, she never makes it to her destination; she comes up missing.

Married to Joan’s brother, and friends with Joan, author Eve Carson pursues justice for Joan and the family. She is horrified, but motivated by the things that she uncovers. Though for her it began with the disappearance of Joan, she finds that Joan may have been collateral damage. The more she learns, the messier the entire case gets. Things are not what they had seemed.

In this thick book, Eve goes over the case, people involved, and the evidence she uncovers in great detail. She includes a Timeline at the rear of the book, as well as copies of actual documents and proof. Her private investigation is thorough and impressive.

Sadly, as she finds herself embroiled in the case, Eve ends up losing her own family. Her husband and his family turn on her. There are many victims and extensive fall out in this story. However, Eve does not give up in her pursuit of justice. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the case is that the more “dirt” Eve uncovers, the more the authorities look away.

It is my hope that Eve’s book will bring this case to the proper authorities, who will resolve this miscarriage of justice. Only then will healing begin.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a true story of Joan Webster who went missing . The story starts on Thanksgiving many years before. On thanksgiving in 1981 Joan Webster heads to the airport, never to be seen again. She wen missing.

Eve , Joan's sister n law and friend, started looking into her disappearance . She was trying to get justice for Joan and her family. As she unravels the clues , it almost looks like Joan was just collateral damage . Eve pieces things together slowly the more she finds out the messier everything seems to get

Eve takes us through every piece of evidence. but as she finds out more and gets deeper into the case, the more she looses her family. They become distant and then they do the unthinkable and they turn against her. Basically shutting her out from their lives. But like a dog with a bone she doesn't give up and keeps going after the evidence. But, with every clue she uncovers the more the authorities turn her away.

The case is a heart breaker. The way the family turns against her when all she tries to do is help . The book is full of so many facts and timelines which helps tell the story , Eve has worked very hard on the getting all the evidence and putting it all together in one great book . It a thick book but it is a great read . You will be lost in trying to figure out what happened to Joan . I know I was trying to piece it all together . There are so many twists and turns that you will be reading all night long. This case hasn't been solved so maybe with the retelling of Joan's story.

Maybe just maybe there might be something come to light. To help solve this case and help Joan come home .

If you love a mystery and also like a true story crime novel this is the book for you . So check it out and help try and figure out this case . You won't be disappointed .

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I began reading this book I was immediately reminded of another controversial book. Lois Duncan wrote a book called, “Who Killed My Daughter”. Both books have ruffled feathers of those they had at one time been close to. I can’t imagine the pain and agony knowing a loved one was murdered and then finding so much evidence that was tainted, twisted and misused. This review in no way says I believe either side. I will say that the author has definitely produced a lot of evidence that makes me believe that things were not what they appeared to be. There were way too many inconsistencies. To me the thing that is so difficult to deal with was the fact that her husband and his family turned on her.

Joan Webster was the sister-in-law of the author of this book. She went missing shortly after Thanksgiving. Eve Carson was not satisfied with the answers she got about Joan’s disappearance and eventual discovery. When she tried to ask questions she was attacked by those you would consider on her side. Joan has done a lot of work on her own and provided a lot of documentation to backup her beliefs. My one hope is that she finds what she is looking for, the truth in this case. Maybe by writing this book she will create enough buzz to truly have this case solved. This is definitely a book I recommend to those who love reading true stories.