BOSTON (AP) – A convicted child rapist who said he knew Molly Bish has denied playing any role in her disappearance.

Oscar Baillargeon said he had been interviewed twice by police and acknowledged bearing a resemblance to the sketch of a man wanted for questioning.

But Baillargeon told the Boston Sunday Herald that he only met Molly Bish once and said he had nothing to do with her death.

“I got nothing to hide,” he said.

The 52-year-old Worcester native, who spent eight years in prison for child rape, said he was questioned by police within hours of the teenager’s disappearance on June 27, 2000 from her lifeguard post at Comins Pond in Warren.

Soon after the first interview, he was questioned again and then asked for a mouth swab and blood to be taken from his finger.

“I felt mad because I have been out of jail for five years and I’ve been doing really good,” he said. “I ain’t been drinking, touching dope.”

Baillargeon said he was introduced to Bish at his nephew’s June graduation party in the weeks before she disappeared.

A Bish family friend, who was not identified by the Herald, said Molly visited Baillargeon’s home in Warren several times to spend time with his nephew and was told to avoid contact with Baillargeon.

In 1991, Baillargeon pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault and battery. He maintains he did not commit the crime, but decided to take a plea bargain on the advice of his attorney to guarantee he would serve five to eight years instead of a the full 25-year sentence.

Police have intensified their work in the case since the skeletal remains of Bish were discovered deep in the woods in Palmer over the last two weeks.

New evidence found Thursday is scheduled to be analyzed by state investigators searching for her killer.

On Beacon Hill, a bill that would expand the state’s DNA database to include all convicted felons who served at least one year in prison hit a road bump this week when some senators expressed concern that the bill was too broad and could curb civil liberties.

The Bish family made a trip to the Statehouse to back the bill, saying it might help in future tragedies.

AP-ES-06-15-03 1709EDT


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