Episode 136: The Murder of Diane Drake
Cathy Coffey and Bob Drake, two of Diane’s siblings, on the 42nd anniversary of Diane’s death in 2022. Bob and his sisters work tirelessly each year to keep Diane’s name and memory alive.
Diane Drake was born to parents John F. Drake, a retired Navy Captain, and Frances Drake. John had served as the commander of the Naval Station on Aquidneck Island and he and Diane were especially close with one another. Diane was one of nine siblings and had six sisters and two brothers, and although she was the third youngest, she was known as the family peacekeeper and a great role model for her siblings. The family grew up in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Diane eventually moved to Middletown to attend classes at Roger Williams University where she majored in administrative justice.
On March 22nd, 1980, at 10:25am, 19-year-old Diane’s body was discovered along the waterline on Easton’s Beach in Newport, Rhode Island by two state highway workers who were cleaning up from a storm the previous night. She was naked except for her necklace and a watch. The medical examiner determined that her body had been left on the beach between 10:00pm and midnight the night before. There were no signs of sexual assault.
Diane’s body was identified by a close friend of hers at 1:30 that afternoon. She was identified by her necklace as her body was almost unrecognizable due to trauma from her attacker as well as the ocean and elements. Per the autopsy report, Diane “died from strangulation with submersion and blunt force trauma. Abrasions on the left side of the neck are consistent with pressure having been applied to this area and a fracture of the left hyoid bone is demonstrated confirming the diagnosis of strangulation." Investigators believed that there was a possibility that Diane had been tied at the wrists and ankles with a soft fabric object like a scarf. They also believed that Diane had been picked up by someone driving by and that they were responsible for her murder.
Several suspects were interviewed and questioned, including Diane’s boyfriend Billy Sears. Her boyfriend was soon released after questioning, especially when it came to light that she had called him to ask for a ride but his mom answered and said he wasn’t home. His mom had actually offered her a ride but she had politely declined.
Diane had been last seen walking to her job at Photo Patio, now the RK Plaza on East Main Road, in Middletown, a 3-mile distance from her apartment. Her shift began at 2:30 and she was seen walking towards the Photo Patio around this time. Authorities felt that Diane had hitchhiked, especially as it was cold, windy and rainy, but her family and friends dispute this as she often cautioned her sisters against hitchhiking. Diane was typically able to get a ride from family, her boyfriend or her roommate and good friend Elaine, and Elaine told police that this was the first time that Diane had ever walked to work.
When Diane never arrived at work, Elaine was frantic and called over to their apartment. When no one answered she called Diane’s parents, who hadn’t seen Diane either. After work, Elaine, Diane’s boyfriend and a few of their friends went out to search for her. Elaine then went back to the apartment to wait for her return while others went out to search local bars and other spots they thought Diane could be. She was reported missing the next morning when she still didn’t come home.
In addition to interviewing Diane’s boyfriend, police spoke to fourteen of Diane’s friends, twenty two other acquaintances, regular customers at the Photo Patio, and multiple witnesses who said they saw Diane walking to work. Three suspects were identified, two of which were said to have had “histories of emotional disorders,” but they all were eventually cleared and released.
A hair was found in Diane’s right hand and was sent down to the FBI lab in D.C, but the hair was determined to be her own. They also sent fingernail scrapings to the lab but they found no foreign material that could be analyzed. Police consulted with several psychics and put several witnesses under hypnosis, but this did not develop any substantial leads.
Diane’s brother Bob said that the murder of his sister has ruined their family and they weren’t ever the same after that, stating “I watched my parents wait for information and it destroyed them.” Bob hopes to one day start a nonprofit organization to help prevent violence against women and honor his sister’s memory, as she was someone who would always help others. He would like to see a permanent memorial or mural at the beach to remember Diane as well. Diane’s sister Cathy stated “It hurts to get your hopes up, but you can't help it. You really want to know. We're convinced she knew who it was because she was smart, she wouldn't have gotten into a stranger's car. Hopefully one of us is still around to get the answers. Somebody knows something, and I'm convinced of that."
Roger Williams University began a memorial scholarship in Diane’s name that is awarded each year to a graduating senior majoring in Diane’s area of study, administrative justice.
Anyone with any information on the murder of Diane Drake is asked to please call the Rhode Island Cold Case Task Force at 1-877-RI-SOLVE. You can also call the anonymous tip line at the Middletown Police Department at 401-842-6516 or the detective line at 401-846-0029.
Image sources:
rhodeislandcurrent.com - “Cold case investigations need a break. All too often they break down.”
newportri.com - “On 42nd anniversary of Diane Drake’s murder, family asks for people to come forward”