What has the Worcester Police Department said about the investigation?

Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier emphasized that the department continued to pursue the case over the 16 years since her disappearance. The Worcester Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact them.

October 11, 2025

Charges Filed Against Suspect in Patricia Santos Case

Worcester, Massachusetts, October 11, 2025

News Summary

Albert Carabba, 64, has been charged with the murder of Patricia Santos, who disappeared in 2009 from Worcester, Massachusetts. A grand jury indicted Carabba, who is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts for arraignment. Ongoing investigations have revealed little about what connects him to Santos’ disappearance, which has remained a case of public interest for over 16 years. Authorities encourage anyone with information to come forward.

Worcester — Albert Carabba, 64, from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has been charged with the murder of Patricia Santos. Santos disappeared on May 20, 2009, from a residence on Fruit Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. A grand jury indicted Carabba on September 23, 2023, and he was taken into custody by police on September 23 with assistance from Worcester detectives.

Top developments

Indictment and custody: A grand jury indicted Carabba on September 23, 2023. Carabba was taken into custody by police on September 23 with assistance from Worcester detectives. Carabba is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts to face arraignment in Worcester Superior Court. Details regarding the murder charge have not yet been publicly released.

Victim and disappearance: Patricia Santos was 36 years old at the time of her disappearance. Santos has not been seen or heard from since 2009. Santos disappeared on May 20, 2009, from a residence on Fruit Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Santos was reported missing shortly after she went home to prepare for work.

What investigators have said and done

Ongoing investigation: Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier emphasized that the department continued to pursue the case over the 16 years since her disappearance. There is currently no clear information on what specifically connected Carabba to Santos’ death. The Worcester Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact them.

Alleged interactions and context: Carabba claimed to have seen Santos on the day she went missing, stating she spoke about a potential relapse and intentions to go to Florida. Friends of Santos doubted Carabba’s claims about her plans and substance use. Santos had a history of drug addiction but had been clean for two years prior to her disappearance. She had obtained a restraining order against Carabba, which was set to expire just two days after she was reported missing.

Next steps in the legal process

Carabba is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts to face arraignment in Worcester Superior Court. Prosecutors have moved forward with an indictment after a grand jury review. As of now, details regarding the murder charge have not yet been publicly released. Investigators continue to review evidence developed over the years and to seek new information from anyone who may have knowledge relevant to the case.

Crime scene and timeline details

The central timeline remains the disappearance on May 20, 2009, from the Fruit Street residence in Worcester. Santos was last reported to have gone home to prepare for work; the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Santos was reported missing shortly after she went home to prepare for work. Over the following years, investigators maintained attention on the case, and a grand jury returned an indictment on September 23, 2023.

Public appeal

The Worcester Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact them. Law enforcement asks that people with possible tips or evidence come forward so investigators can build a fuller picture of events surrounding Santos’ disappearance and the subsequent indictment.

Background

Patricia Santos was 36 years old at the time of her disappearance. Santos has not been seen or heard from since 2009. Prior to her disappearance, Santos had a history of drug addiction but had been clean for two years prior to her disappearance. She had obtained a restraining order against Carabba, which was set to expire just two days after she was reported missing.

The indictment and arrest came 14 years after the disappearance and follow long-term investigative work by local authorities. A grand jury indicted Carabba on September 23, 2023. Carabba was taken into custody by police on September 23 with assistance from Worcester detectives. There is currently no clear information on what specifically connected Carabba to Santos’ death.

FAQ

Who has been charged in connection with the case?: Albert Carabba, 64, from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has been charged with the murder of Patricia Santos.
When and where did Patricia Santos disappear?: Santos disappeared on May 20, 2009, from a residence on Fruit Street in Worcester, Massachusetts.
How old was Patricia Santos when she disappeared?: Patricia Santos was 36 years old at the time of her disappearance.
Has anyone seen or heard from Santos since 2009?: Santos has not been seen or heard from since 2009.
When was Carabba indicted and taken into custody?: A grand jury indicted Carabba on September 23, 2023. Carabba was taken into custody by police on September 23 with assistance from Worcester detectives.
What has the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office said about when Santos was reported missing?: The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Santos was reported missing shortly after she went home to prepare for work.
What has the Worcester Police Department said about the investigation?: Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier emphasized that the department continued to pursue the case over the 16 years since her disappearance. The Worcester Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact them.
Are there specific details linking Carabba to Santos’ death?: There is currently no clear information on what specifically connected Carabba to Santos’ death.
Did Santos have a history of substance use?: Santos had a history of drug addiction but had been clean for two years prior to her disappearance.
Was there a restraining order in place?: She had obtained a restraining order against Carabba, which was set to expire just two days after she was reported missing.
What did Carabba claim about seeing Santos?: Carabba claimed to have seen Santos on the day she went missing, stating she spoke about a potential relapse and intentions to go to Florida.
How did Santos’ friends respond to Carabba’s claims?: Friends of Santos doubted Carabba’s claims about her plans and substance use.
What will happen to Carabba next?: Carabba is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts to face arraignment in Worcester Superior Court.
Have details of the murder charge been released?: Details regarding the murder charge have not yet been publicly released.

Quick reference table

Item	Detail
Charged individual	Albert Carabba, 64, from Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Victim	Patricia Santos
Date of disappearance	May 20, 2009
Location of disappearance	Residence on Fruit Street in Worcester, Massachusetts
Age at disappearance	36 years old
Indictment date	September 23, 2023
Custody date	September 23 (taken into custody by police with assistance from Worcester detectives)
Extradition and arraignment	Carabba is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts to face arraignment in Worcester Superior Court.
Public information on charge details	Details regarding the murder charge have not yet been publicly released.
Missing report context	The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Santos was reported missing shortly after she went home to prepare for work.
Police request	The Worcester Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact them.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.

STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

ADD MORE INFORMATION OR CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ARTICLE CLICK HERE!

Stay Connected

More Updates

A visual representation of Bitcoin and traditional finance concepts

Would You Like To Add Your Business?

Submit