Reward Offered in Florence Boatwright Murder

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance into information regarding the 11/28/2006 murder of Florence Boatwright.

(SALEM) - The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance into information regarding the 11/28/2006 murder of Florence Boatwright.

The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Florence’s death.

Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso were three women sightseers who were missing and later found murdered near Yosemite National Park in February of 1999. While they were missing, Carole Sund’s parents, Francis and Carole Carrington, at the request of the FBI, posted rewards for both their safe return and for information leading to the whereabouts of their rental car.

The Carringtons believed that the posting of these rewards and the media attention they received contributed to the car being located and gave them the first break in their case. They were thankful that they had the financial means to offer these rewards, and it’s because of this that they have started the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation.

This foundation was established to assist families such as the family of Florence Boatwright, who are in similar circumstances as the Carringtons, in that Florence is the victim of a homicide.

The Foundation’s reward monies have already assisted in the apprehension of 36 murder suspects, one child molester/attempted murderer, one kidnapper/child molester and helped in locating 9 missing persons. The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation has assisted in the apprehension of 29 suspects in 8 states.

Of those suspects in custody, 8 murderers and 1 child molester/attempted murderer have been convicted or plead guilty as charged. To date, the Foundation has paid a total of $240,500 in rewards to citizens who did the right thing by coming forward and sharing the information they had regarding these cases.

Regarding the Boatwright case, "While investigators continue to investigate the manner and time of death, they believe it is clearly a result of homicidal violence," said Kevin Rau of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators released sketches of two "persons of interest" Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses in past robberies in the area provided the descriptions to police artists earlier this year, Rau said. One of the persons depicted is a white female, approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and in her early- to mid-40s. A male suspect is approximately 5 feet, 6 inches, and about 40, with a medium build.

"For now, we're just trying to identify these people," Rau said. Deputies were dispatched to the scene by a 9-1-1 call at about 3:30 AM the morning of November 28th, said Deputy District Attorney Matt Kemmy.

Joe Boatwright was home at the time of the murder, but is not being considered as a suspect, Kemmy said. Kemmy confirmed that the elder Boatwrights had reported a burglary in their home Oct. 11th.

The Boatwrights have two daughters and a son. Friends say the entire family had just gotten together in Salem for a biennial "Christmas for Thanksgiving" celebration.

Florence Boatwright grew up in Salem and lived there most of her life. She was a long-time member of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on State Street.

If anyone has information regarding the Florence Boatwright murder, please call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 503-540-8007 (Mon-Fri, 8am to 5pm) or 503-588-5032 (24-hour non-emergency dispatch).