The Murder of Deborah Lynne Bates

The Murder of Deborah Lynne Bates

From Murder, She Told by Kristen Seavey | Daylight Media

March 25, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

The episode explores the mysterious disappearance and murder of Deborah Lynne Bates in 1993.

1993. Chelmsford, Massachusetts. 23-year-old Deborah Lynne Bates, known as Debbie, was trying to start over after leaving her abusive ex, George, with whom she shared a child. She wasn't perfect, but she was determined to build a better life. One February night in 1993, seven months pregnant, Debbie stepped out of her apartment for a pack of cigarettes and vanished. She never came home. Police treated her disappearance as routine, but her family knew she would never abandon her young son. The case lay practically dormant until 2004, when a gruesome discovery that was meant to stay buried turned up on the side of the hideaway—raising questions no one was ready to answer. If you have any information on what happened to Deborah Bates, please contact the Massachusetts State Police at the Middlesex District Attorney's office at 781-897-6600. Episode sources and photos: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/deborah-bates Support the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@murdershetoldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@murdershetold⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mstpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠murdershetold.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- Learn…

People in this episode

Host: Kristen Seavey

Topics covered

  • disappearance
  • true crime
  • abuse
  • investigation
  • murder
  • family

Keywords

  • Deborah Bates
  • murder
  • disappearance
  • true crime
  • Chelmsford
  • abuse
  • investigation

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Chelmsford, Massachusetts

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