SUTTON, Mass. — A day of hiking turned deadly at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation on April 23, when a 49-year-old mother plummeted to her death in front of her four children. Carolyn Sanger, a Topsfield resident, was navigating the rocky trails of the popular park when she fell between 50 and 75 feet into the chasm’s jagged depths.
The call came in around mid-afternoon. Massachusetts State Police and local first responders scrambled to the scene, a craggy stretch of granite that draws families and thrill-seekers alike. Sanger’s kids, shaken but unharmed, alerted park rangers, who were among the first to respond. Rescuers faced a grim task: recovering her body from the chasm’s unforgiving terrain. Crews from multiple agencies worked into the evening, their radios crackling against the quiet of the park.
Sanger, described by authorities as an experienced hiker, was with her family on what should have been a routine outing. Purgatory Chasm, a half-mile gash of cliffs and caves, is a staple for locals and tourists, its trails both scenic and treacherous. Signs warn of loose rocks and steep drops, but nothing could prepare for this.
The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Sanger’s identity the following day, April 24. State police are still piecing together the moments leading up to the fall, combing the park for clues. No foul play is suspected, but the investigation is ongoing, with officials tight-lipped about further details.
The park, a 900-acre preserve managed by the state, remained open, though rangers stepped up patrols. Visitors were urged to stick to marked paths and heed warnings about the chasm’s hazards. For Sanger’s family, the loss is unthinkable—a mother gone in an instant, a hike turned to heartbreak.
Carolyn Sanger was 49. She leaves behind four children. The cause of the fall is under investigation.