Introduction
On the evening of April 15, 1992, 24-year-old Lisa Ziegert was working alone at a small gift shop in Agawam, Massachusetts. Like countless evenings before, she expected to finish her shift, lock up the store, and head home. Instead, she vanished without a trace.
What began as a baffling disappearance soon evolved into one of Massachusetts’ most notorious cold cases. For more than two decades, investigators pursued hundreds of leads, analyzed DNA evidence, and followed countless tips. Yet Lisa’s killer remained unidentified—until advances in forensic science finally revealed the shocking truth.
This is the tragic story of Lisa Ziegert’s abduction, murder, and the decades-long investigation that ultimately brought justice.
Who Was Lisa Ziegert?
Lisa Ziegert was a 24-year-old teacher’s aide in Agawam, Massachusetts. Passionate about education, she dreamed of securing a full-time teaching position. However, because her school job did not provide enough income, she worked evenings at Britney’s Card and Gift Shop, a small retail store in a local shopping plaza.
Friends and family described Lisa as hardworking, kind, and well-liked. She had a close relationship with her boyfriend, Blair Masoya, her sisters, and her circle of friends.
No one could imagine that she would soon become the victim of a horrifying crime.
The Night Lisa Disappeared
On April 15, 1992, Lisa arrived for her evening shift at Britney’s Card and Gift Shop.
The shopping plaza was unusually busy that night. Customers crowded the parking lot, and nearby restaurants and businesses were bustling with activity.
Around 7:00 p.m., Lisa received a visit from her sister Lynn. The two chatted for nearly half an hour before Lynn left. Shortly afterward, Lisa spoke briefly with James Dent, the owner of a neighboring carpet store, about how crowded the plaza had become.
At approximately 8:20 p.m., Lisa completed what would become the store’s final recorded transaction. She then returned to the back room to take inventory before closing.
Moments later, she heard the store’s entrance bell ring, signaling that someone had entered the shop.
Lisa was never seen alive again.
A Disturbing Discovery
The next morning, a coworker arrived to open the gift shop and immediately noticed something was wrong.
Lisa’s car was still parked outside.
The store door was unlocked.
The lights were on.
Music continued playing through the overhead speakers.
Yet Lisa was nowhere to be found.
Police quickly arrived and discovered alarming evidence in the store’s back room. Flattened cardboard boxes were stained with blood, suggesting a violent struggle had occurred.
Investigators also found a partially open rear door leading to an alleyway behind the building. Scuff marks on the ground indicated someone may have been dragged outside.
The evidence pointed strongly toward an abduction.
The Search for Lisa
Detective Wayne Macy of the Agawam Police Department immediately launched a massive search operation.
Police dogs, search teams, and volunteers combed the surrounding area looking for any sign of Lisa.
Investigators interviewed family members, coworkers, friends, and potential witnesses. However, nobody reported seeing Lisa after 8:20 p.m. on April 15.
One troubling detail emerged during interviews.
Several friends revealed that Lisa had recently mentioned feeling as though someone was watching her while she worked at the gift shop. Unfortunately, she had never identified who she believed might be stalking her.
Despite extensive efforts, investigators found no clear suspects and no witnesses.
The Grim Discovery in the Woods
Three days later, on April 19, 1992, a man walking his dog discovered a body in a wooded area less than a mile from the gift shop.
Detective Macy and other officers followed tire tracks through swampy terrain until they reached a remote clearing.
There, they found Lisa.
The scene was horrific.
Lisa’s body showed evidence of sexual assault and multiple stab wounds, including a fatal wound to her throat. Her clothing was scattered throughout the clearing.
A charm bracelet still on her wrist confirmed her identity.
The disappearance had become a murder investigation.
A Frustrating Investigation
Investigators recovered DNA evidence from Lisa’s body, but in the early 1990s, DNA technology was still limited.
Unlike modern forensic databases, there was no national system capable of automatically matching DNA profiles to suspects.
Police focused on those closest to Lisa, including her boyfriend Blair Masoya and friend Ed Borgatti. Both had potential opportunities to commit the crime and became early suspects.
However:
- Their DNA did not match the evidence.
- Their vehicles did not match tire tracks found near the crime scene.
- Neither could be linked to the murder.
As news spread, tips flooded into the police department.
Hundreds of leads were investigated.
More than 400 persons of interest were examined.
None led to Lisa’s killer.
The Case Goes Cold
For years, detectives chased rumors, witness statements, and anonymous tips.
The case gained national attention when it was featured on the television program Unsolved Mysteries in 1993.
The episode generated 212 additional tips.
Unfortunately, none produced a breakthrough.
By the time Detective Wayne Macy retired in 2003, more than a decade had passed without an arrest.
Lisa Ziegert’s murder remained unsolved.
New DNA Technology Revives the Investigation
In 2015, newly elected District Attorney Anthony Gulluni made solving Lisa’s murder a priority.
Advancements in forensic science offered investigators a new opportunity.
Rather than searching for an exact DNA match, authorities used DNA phenotyping—a process that predicts physical characteristics based on genetic markers.
The results generated a profile suggesting the suspect was a Caucasian male with dark hair and brown or hazel eyes.
Investigators reviewed decades of case files and identified 11 individuals who matched the profile and had previously refused to provide DNA samples.
Court orders were obtained requiring those individuals to submit DNA.
Then everything changed.
The Killer Revealed
Before the DNA testing process was complete, investigators received a stunning development.
One of the suspects, Gary Schara, realized police were closing in on him.
Facing inevitable exposure, Schara left behind a written confession and attempted to take his own life.
He survived and was arrested in September 2017.
DNA evidence confirmed what investigators had finally uncovered after 25 years.
Gary Schara was Lisa Ziegert’s killer.
Why Gary Schara Targeted Lisa
According to investigators, Schara’s only connection to Lisa was that he had once visited Britney’s Card and Gift Shop to purchase a music box for his wife.
During that visit, he became obsessed with Lisa.
Police believe he spent weeks fantasizing about abducting her before finally acting on those urges on April 15, 1992.
He watched her from outside the store, waited for the right moment, then attacked.
After abducting Lisa, he drove her to a secluded wooded area where he sexually assaulted and murdered her.
The Missed Warning Sign
One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the case involved a tip submitted in January 1993.
Schara’s wife contacted police and suggested that her husband might be responsible for Lisa’s murder.
However, investigators considered the information unreliable because:
- The couple was involved in a bitter divorce.
- She struggled with alcoholism.
- Police were receiving numerous similar accusations from spouses throughout the investigation.
As a result, Schara’s name became buried among hundreds of other leads.
It would take another 25 years before the truth finally emerged.
Justice at Last
In 2019, Gary Schara pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
For Lisa Ziegert’s family, the conviction finally brought answers after decades of uncertainty and heartbreak.
Although nothing could undo the tragedy of April 15, 1992, the resolution of the case demonstrated the power of persistence, modern forensic science, and the determination of investigators who refused to give up.
Conclusion
The murder of Lisa Ziegert remained one of Massachusetts’ most haunting cold cases for more than a quarter century. Despite hundreds of leads, extensive media coverage, and years of frustration, investigators never stopped searching for answers.
Ultimately, advances in DNA technology succeeded where traditional investigative methods could not.
Lisa’s story serves as a reminder that even the coldest cases can be solved—and that justice, no matter how delayed, can still prevail.