Barbara Hamburg, Gone But Not Forgotten, Is Mourned By Family And Friends

When Madison Hamburg was in his hometown of Madison on Friday and Saturday, he visited the downtown, the beaches, and the crime scene off of Middle Beach West where his mother was found murdered three years ago Sunday. 

He talked with friends and family, and even random people on the street about the crime, as yet unsolved. 

"The major problem is that most everybody has pretty much moved on and forgotten," he said Sunday, of the people he stopped on the street to ask them what they remembered. "Half of everyone I talked with thought it was solved. They'd be like, 'is that like the man who killed his wife?' Or like, 'isn't that the woman who got involved with the pyramid scheme?' It's all hearsay, like a small town focused on just pushing it under the rug." 

So that she will not be forgotten

Madison Hamburg, with two friends from his college working as crew, is making a video documentary about his mother's life, so that she will not be forgotten. Barbara Hamburg's sister, Conway Beach, held a vigil on the town green Sunday for the same reason, so that her baby sister will not be forgotten. 

Beach was the only family member to attend the vigil this year, but she said every other family member was there in spirit. Madison Hamburg, after working on his documentary, had to be back at school for classes on Monday. And Barbara Hamburg's daughter, Ali Hamburg, is traveling in South America, Beach said. But she said her family has not forgotten her and grieves for her every day. 

Beach handed out yellow and purple ribbons Sunday before the vigil. Yellow was Barbara Hamburg's favorite color. Purple was for domestic violence, said Beach. Not only did Barbara Hamburg work to help victims of domestic violence, she also was in a marital relationship that was abusive at times, Beach said. 

Ex-husband slowly paying off money owed to estate, children

Rich Callahan was the family's attorney and was waiting for Barbara Hamburg in family court the day she was murdered. He is now representing the interests of the estate, and the children's interests. He said Barbara Hamburg's ex-husband, Jeffrey Hamburg, owes Barbara Hamburg's estate about $100,000 and that he owes his children about $300,000 to $400,000. Callahan said Jeffrey Hamburg is paying off part of the debt with payments of about $500 a week. 

Jeffrey Hamburg's attorney, Hugh Keefe, told WTNH-News 8 in March 2010 that Hamburg was considered a suspect in his wife's murder.  No charges have been filed in the murder case. But Jeffrey Hamburg was arrested and charged with stealing from a custodial account intended to pay for his children's college education.

"Please come forward with any information you might have"

When asked whether she was satisfied with the progress police are making, Beach said, "at this time I will say I think they are doing everything possible. And three years is a long time to wait. It's difficult to deal with this on a daily basis. We are praying not to be here next year, unless it is celebrating that her murderer has been found." 

Both Beach and Callahan encouraged anyone who may have seen anything to contact the Madison, CT police. 

"Please come forward with any information you might have," Beach said.