The victims

Colette, 26, and her daughters Kimberly, 5, and Kristen, 2.

Colette

Colette MacDonald was born and raised in Patchogue, NY, and had known Jeff MacDonald since grade school.  They dated as teenagers, and married  in the fall of 1963. Colette attended two years at Skidmore College; her first priority was being a  loving wife and mother.  She had an intuitive sense about people, and a wry sense of humor.  She enjoyed the arts, music, movies and reading, and continued taking classes while the family lived in Chicago, and then North Carolina.  She hoped to get a degree in English Literature, and possibly be a teacher someday.   She was pregnant with the family's third child at the time of her murder.

Colette's body as seen from the hallway.

Colette's body as seen from the hallway.

Colette's body as found on the master bedroom floor.

Colette's body as found on the master bedroom floor.

Colette in the master bedroom and pig written on the headboard.

Colette's body in the master bedroom covered with the white towel and MacDonald's pajama top.

Colette's body on the floor in the master bedroom and blood on the foot of the master bed.

Colette's lower extremities.

Colette's lower extremities.

Autopsy photos