Skull Found

[Chris Santee]

STATE OF VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Skull Located in Danby, VT
Lt. Tim Oliver, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, C Troop

Danby, VT – 2/15/12 – On the late afternoon of February 12, 2012 the Vermont State Police in Rutland received a report from a member of the public that they had found a human skull along the roadside of Danby Hill Rd in Danby VT. A trooper from the Rutland Barracks and a detective from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations Division responded and took possession of the skull. The area where the skull was discovered was identified and searched for any other apparent items of interest.

The skull was then transported to the Office of the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner for examination. Based on the examination of the skull, its characteristics appear consistent with that of a young adult, caucasian female. There was also trauma noted on the skull which would indicate that the female’s death could have been the result of a criminal act.

Today, the area off Danby Hill Rd where the skull was located is being searched for additional remains and other potential items of evidentiary interest. State Police detectives along with members of the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team, State Police Human Remain Detection K-9s and the State Police Search and Rescue Team are involved in the search efforts.

At this time, the Vermont State Police is not speculating as to the origin or identity of the remains. Further examination of the skull is currently being conducted in an effort to determine the female’s identity.

No additional information is available at this time, as the investigation is on-going.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation should call the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101.

[Chris Santee]

STATE OF VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Update on Search and Skull Located in Danby, VT
Lt. Tim Oliver, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, C Troop

Danby, VT – 2/16/12 –  Yesterday, February 15, Vermont State Police detectives along with members of the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team, State Police Human Remain Detection K-9s and the State Police Search and Rescue Team searched the area along the roadside of Danby Hill Rd in Danby where a skull was found on February 12. Nothing of significance was located or collected during the search. However detectives will continue their efforts using any and all available investigative methods to bring the case to a resolution and, hopefully, to find closure for the victim and their family. 

Based on the examination of the skull by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, its characteristics appear consistent with that of a young adult, caucasian female. Further examination is necessary to determine the female’s identity. Due to the deterioration of the skull, identification may prove difficult and could take a significant amount of time.

At this time, the Vermont State Police is not speculating as to the origin or identity of the remains. That being said, a check of the Vermont State Police missing person reports indicate that Heidi Wilbur, missing since 1991 from Middletown Springs, and Brianna Maitland, missing since 2004 from Montgomery, could potentially meet the age range criteria of the caucasion female in this case. However, detectives are also checking local police agencies to see if any of their missing person cases could meet the criteria; as well, this does not preclude the victim being that of someone unreported as missing or of someone from out-of-state.

No additional information is available at this time, as the investigation is on-going.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation should call the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101.