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Community Marks 26 Years Since Woburn Teen's Disappearance

WOBURN (CBS) – Another year has passed and there are still no answers on what happened to Melanie Melanson, a Woburn teen who went missing 26 years ago.

Billboards in parts of Woburn and Stoneham now display basic information about Melanie the night she disappeared, with hopes that someone will come forward with information that will crack the cold case.

The 14-year-old disappeared in 1989 after a night of partying in the woods with friends.

Melanie's family previously told WBZ-TV that based on information they've received through the years, they believe Melanie is not alive.

On Wednesday, Melanie's uncle Frank Masciulli told WBZ-TV's Paul Burton that the pain of not knowing never goes away.

"It gets worse each year. No information she hasn't been found, and that's what we are trying to do just bring her home. It's a 26-year-old funeral. It just won't end," Masciulli said.

No arrests have been made in the case. Multiple forensic digs in Woburn over the years have yielded no new evidence.

The family says somebody has to know what happened that night.

"She did not deserve to be thrown away like trash and be discarded by people who said they were her friends, or whatever. We just want to bring her home to give her a burial. Everybody deserves that," said Masciulli.

Marcial Quinonez was only 11 years old at the time. He recently wrote a song about her life and disappearance.

"I remember a very cute little blonde girl with dimples always smiling and laughing and I fortunately I remember she went missing and was never found. To go more than two and a half decades now it's become increasingly infuriating," Quinonez said.

Even after multiple searches using cadaver dogs there have been no results and no arrest in the case.

Melanie's family says it makes no difference how long it takes as long as she is found.

"We will not stop until we find her," Masciulli said.

Anyone with information on Melanson's disappearance is asked to call (866) 637-4907.

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