Melanie Melanson relatives gather as state police search in Woburn

WOBURN (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – Authorities spent Wednesday combing an area near the Kraft Foods plant in Woburn for clues possibly pertaining to the 1989 death of Melanie Melanson.

According to the Woburn Patch, three helicopters with the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing reportedly flew over the area and took photos of an excavation in the renewed search for Melanson.

FOX 25 learned that one of Melanson's relatives was present at the search site.

Melanson had just started her freshman year at Woburn High School and attended a party in the woods during the weekend of October 27, 1989. She was days away from her fifteenth birthday when she vanished in the woods.

Investigators have unconfirmed reports that Melanson went off into the woods with one of the other partygoers as the party wound down; however, it is unclear in what direction and how far the two reportedly traversed.

Witnesses claim they saw her walk into the woods, but never saw her walk out. Some also claimed that they heard yelling and screaming when the party began to dissipate, but authorities were unable to produce any viable leads.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone issued a statement to FOX 25 in November saying, "We continue to investigate what happened to Melanie the night she disappeared, and expect to hold those responsible fully accountable. We urge anyone with information on Melanie's disappearance to come forward and speak with authorities. We will not stop working on this case until we have found Melanie and her family can honor her memory with the proper burial that she deserves."

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office at 781-897-6600.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the discovery of Melanson's body.

Contact the special tip line set up by the private investigators at 866-637-4907.

Cox Media Group