Michael Hand Convicted in 1986 Murder of Tracy Gilpin
A Plymouth County jury found Michael Hand guilty of first-degree murder in the 1986 death of 15-year-old Tracy Gilpin, nearly 40 years after her body was discovered in Myles Standish State Forest. Hand, 69, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, according to the Plymouth District Attorney’s office. Patriot Ledger, Boston 25 News, and Boston Herald.
The Crime and Investigation
Tracy Gilpin left a party in Rocky Nook, Kingston, on October 1, 1986, to purchase cigarettes at a nearby Cumberland Farms. She was last seen alive around 11:30 p.m. Leaving the store. Boston 25 News. Her body was found on October 22, 1986, in Myles Standish State Forest, buried under debris. Medical examiners determined she died from massive brain trauma caused by a blow to the back of her head. Boston 25 News.
Hand was arrested in North Carolina in 2018, more than 30 years after the crime. Boston Herald. The arrest followed a renewed investigation sparked by a witness who reported a gathering at Hand’s Kingston home on the night of Gilpin’s disappearance. Boston Herald.
Evidence and Trial
Prosecutors presented evidence that Hand killed Gilpin after she rejected his advances. They stated he struck her head with a 73-pound rock, causing multiple skull fractures. Boston Herald. The trial relied heavily on Hand’s statements to police and testimony from a fellow inmate, as there was no DNA evidence, witnesses, or forensics directly linking him to the murder. Plymouth Independent.
The defense argued that investigators rushed to solve the case and failed to pursue other leads. Plymouth Independent. Prior to the trial, a Superior Court judge had suppressed some of Hand’s statements to police, ruling they were coerced during a lengthy interrogation, and also suppressed statements made to his pastor shortly after the interrogation. Boston Herald. Despite this, prosecutors were able to secure a guilty verdict.
Family’s Relief and Background
Tracy Gilpin is the sister of former Massachusetts State Police Colonel Kerry Gilpin. Boston Herald. The Gilpin family had long sought justice in the case, even offering a reward for information. Boston 25 News.
“Our family has not, nor will we ever, recover from what this monster did. We are forever changed,” said Kathy Gilpin, Tracy’s mother. Boston 25 News. “Nearly 40 years after she was taken from us, Tracy finally has the justice she deserves, and our family can now begin the healing process.”