November 10, 2025 – Brimfield, Massachusetts – The Hampden District Attorney’s Office hosted a Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) event in Brimfield this past Sunday, Nov. 9, drawing 28 community members who contributed DNA samples in support of the ongoing investigation into the 1993 abduction and murder of 10-year-old Holly Piirainen.

Held at the Brimfield Public Safety Complex, the event marked the office’s second FIGG drive dedicated to advancing Holly’s case. Among the attendees were members of Holly’s own family, including her aunt and grandmother, who visited to show their support for the continued pursuit of answers.

District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said, “We are incredibly grateful to every community member who came out this weekend. Each new DNA sample has the potential to bring us one step closer to justice for Holly. Her family has carried this unimaginable loss for more than three decades, and we remain fully committed to using every available tool to find the person responsible.”

Through FIGG, DNA gathered from crime-scene evidence is compared against publicly available genealogy databases to identify distant relatives of potential suspects. These genetic connections can help investigators build family trees, narrow down leads, and, in some cases, identify offenders who have evaded justice for years. Participants in the event also received a complimentary ancestry profile and family-tree report — a service that typically costs several hundred dollars.

Holly’s case remains open and active. She was last seen on August 5, 1993, after leaving her grandparents’ home in Sturbridge to visit a nearby litter of puppies. Despite exhaustive searches by local, state, and regional law enforcement, Holly was not found until October 23, 1993, when hunters discovered her remains in a wooded area off Five Bridge Road in Brimfield. Evidence collected at that scene has been preserved and repeatedly re-examined as forensic technology continues to evolve.

Investigators urge anyone with information related to Holly’s disappearance and murder to contact the dedicated Holly Tip-Line at 413-426-3507 or use Text-a-Tip by texting CRIMES(274637), typing the word SOLVE, and sharing your tip.

More than thirty years later, Holly’s story continues to inspire perseverance, community unity, and hope. Sunday’s turnout underscores a simple truth: Western Massachusetts has not forgotten Holly — and remains committed to finding the answers her family deserves.