A man who confessed to a 46-year-old Back Bay murder has pleaded guilty to the horrific cold case.

John Irmer, 71, entered a guilty plea for first-degree murder, which comes with a mandatory life sentence, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.

Irmer walked into an FBI office in Portland, Oregon, in 2023 to confess to killing a red-haired woman he’d met around Halloween in 1979 at a skating rink in Boston.

According to the DA’s office, Irmer told the FBI that after the meeting he’d walked into an apartment on Beacon Street that was under renovation with the victim, who turned out to be 24-year-old Susan Rose. Once inside, he said picked up a hammer, hit Rose on the head with it, killing her, then raped her. The next day, Oct. 30, Irmer said he left the state the next day for New York, while a construction crew found Rose’s body and a lot of blood.

Rose had been planning on dressing as “Dracula’s helper” for Halloween, borrowing a cape from a friend that she was wearing at the time of her death, according to a Herald article published the day after she was found.

A Boston Police detective described the killing as one of the most “vicious” he’d ever seen, telling Herald reporters whoever did it was a “real psycho.”

Another man had been tried for Rose’s murder a few months after the crime took place and was acquitted. In 2005, police reexamined evidence in the case and made a DNA profile from sperm found on a broom at the crime scene. Investigators found the DNA could not have been from the defendant in the first trial, the DA’s office said.

The FBI in Oregon reached out to Boston Police, who flew detectives across the country to interview Irmer. He told them that after becoming sober and finding religion during a prison stint in California for another killing, he felt he needed to confess to Rose’s murder.

During the interview, Irmer told police detailed information about Rose’s killing and confessed to another murder that took place in the South. According to the DA, investigators are also investigating that case.

In court Monday, Rose’s sister gave what the DA called an “emotional” impact statement, holding a photo of Rose when she was a first-grader.

Rose’s sister said she went by the nickname “Susie,” and was “caring, intelligent, adventuresome, and curious.”

“Now we know that my sister’s life was taken by John Irmer, but he also ruined the lives of my parents and me,” she said.

“The answers for Susan Rose’s sister and friends finally came today, though after a very long and sad period of time,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said in a statement. “I hope other families affected by John Irmer’s murderous behavior find similar answers.”

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At spring events like the Kentucky Derby and Boston’s own “hat luncheon,” the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s annual Party in the Park, hats have long shaped the conversation—an expected flourish of brim and bloom marking the start of the season. In recent years, however, the role of the hat has evolved, from celebratory flourish to considered craft.

Leading that charge locally is Ellie Jian Millinery, the Newton studio founded by Ellie Ayati-Jian. Trained in architecture and interior design, Ayati-Jian brings a structural sensibility to her work, approaching millinery less as ornament and more as wearable design. Her hats—ranging from floral fascinators to structured couture pieces—are engineered with intention, balancing form, proportion, and comfort. “What drew me in was the energy and sense of community around derby events,” Ayati-Jian says. “They bring together fashion, tradition, and celebration in a very social way.” That social element remains central to her work: She’s a familiar presence at Boston events, often modeling her own designs to show how even bold headpieces can feel approachable.

This Ellie Jian Millinery pink fascinator is anchored by deep blue handmade flower. / Photo by Steph Larsen / Styling by Abby Brenc for Anchor Artists

Ayati-Jian’s creative process begins not with sketching, but with research—architecture, art, fashion history, or a client’s personal story—until a concept emerges. She often spends days gathering visual references before touching a single material, allowing a narrative to emerge before form takes shape. From there, she shapes and refines her hats by hand.

Ayati-Jian says toppers incorporating clean shapes, softer brims, and sculptural forms are now trending—which, given the city’s fashion predilections, is a big advantage. “Boston style is generally more conservative, and I think that works beautifully with this direction,” she says. “Bostonians appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and timeless design.”

The “Monaco” by IndigoHats is made of silk with a peacock feather. / Photo courtesy of Jaine Davies/IndigoHats

She’s not the only one taking advantage of the recent hat craze. Raised in England near a major horse race, Jaine Davies, whose millinery studio, IndigoHats, is based on the South Shore, grew up immersed in a culture where hats signaled occasion. Her ideas often begin in a small notebook she carries everywhere, filled with details spotted at museum exhibitions and in historical garments. “Couture runway shows are really important to study,” says Davies, who observes the season’s designer dresses closely, translating their colors, embroidery, and silhouettes into hats ready for her studio. She handblocks each piece on traditional wooden forms and sews every hat by hand, pairing time-honored techniques with an adventurous use of materials. Alongside classic straws, Davies works with Dupioni silks, richly patterned textiles, beadwork, and meticulously crafted feather flowers designed to be as light as they are dramatic.

For Davies, drama and discipline go hand in hand. “I want to wow from a distance and impress close up with how well made they are,” she says. Indeed, her hats accomplish exactly that.

The shop’s “Aster” is a pillbox style with quills and sophisticated veiling. / Photo courtesy of Jaine Davies/IndigoHats

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A beloved New England chain restaurant’s last Boston location may close as developers eye the lot around it for future apartments at Charlestown’s Bunker Hill Mall. 

Universal Hub first reported the news that the 99 Restaurant on Austin Street could shutter as part of a proposal to replace much of the site with a six-story, 240-unit apartment complex. 

A spokesperson for the restaurant said the 99 has been at its 31 Austin St. location for 33 years.

“We are aware that the owners of Bunker Hill Mall property are considering a redevelopment of the entire site, and as such, we are exploring our options to remain in this community far into the future,” a spokesperson said. “We will continue to serve our loyal guests in our current location as long as our lease remains in place.”

The property owner, New England Development, originally proposed a plan in 2021 that would build apartments around the 99 in a U-shape design, according to previous documents and members of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council who spoke to Boston.com. But the neighborhood council development chair Nancy Johnson said the community had a hard time envisioning that design.

Since then, a key zoning change has reshaped the project. In late 2023, the Boston Planning Department changed the Bunker Hill Mall site’s zoning from neighborhood shopping to mixed-use, clearing the way for residential builds. New England Development now proposes replacing the 99 entirely, with construction to be finished by 2028.

In a statement, New England Development said the restaurant “will remain in operation through at least the end of 2026.”

“The residential development, which adheres to zoning, will provide needed housing, and also complement and support the existing grocery and commercial uses with no reduction in parking for those businesses,” the statement read.

In a March meeting, some public comments opposed the project because of the likely shuttering of the 99. 

“The 99 is one of the few family-friendly restaurants in Charlestown,” said one commenter. “We have celebrated numerous end-of-season sports events there. We need these kind of community spaces in Charlestown.”

Residents also raised broader concerns about the development, including parking and the potential loss of retail in addition to the 99. It isn’t immediately clear which stores will stay. A draft project impact report filed this year indicates redevelopment would only be considered after the “expiration of long-term retail leases.”

But along with zoning changes, Boston’s planning department approved a modification to the urban renewal plan to allow for the residential build. Johnson said the community is worried it could mean less retail stores at the site, which is the opposite of what the community wants. 

The Bunker Hill Mall currently includes a Whole Foods, CVS, an Ace Hardware, and other stores. The 99 and a Dunkin’ are the last remaining restaurant spaces on site — the 99 being the last full-service option. The mall previously housed a Papa Gino’s and a Friendly’s.

The Charlestown Neighborhood Council expressed frustration mostly with the Boston Planning & Development Agency over the lack of a community process during the 2023 zoning change and a subsequent update to the site’s urban renewal plan. 

“We want our neighbors and other residents to have good, affordable housing that’s safe and well-made,” Johnson said. “But you have to plan for the future, and a neighborhood is going to need retail spaces.” 

The 99’s long history in Charlestown includes a 1995 shooting that killed four people. More recently, the chain has maintained a loyal following: It topped a Boston.com reader poll in 2020 and drew a wave of praise from readers in 2024 reacting to a Reddit post declaring the chain was underrated.

If the Charlestown location ultimately closes at the Bunker Hill Mall site, the closest 99 locations to Boston proper would be in Revere and Quincy.

Katelyn Umholtz

Food and Restaurant Reporter

Katelyn Umholtz covers food and restaurants for Boston.com. Katelyn is also the author of The Dish, a weekly food newsletter.