Search Effort Going On In Westford/Fairfax Browns River

[Henry]

Hi All,

If you see a Colchester Police Car just above the Browns River Bridge on Route 128, A utility truck near the river on the left or a Colchester Search & Rescue vehicle up the road near Bouffard Road, this is what is going on:

Elderly Woman
 
Westford, Vermont - July 19, 2007

Crews are searching the Browns River in Westford Thursday for a missing elderly woman.

78 year-old Mary Wilcox has been missing since last November after she reportedly walked away from her home. Wilcox suffers from Alzheimer's Disease and police say she was not dressed for an extended stay outdoors.

After days of searching in November state police called off their efforts.

Thursday, dive teams from Colchester Technical Rescue are searching the Browns River for Wilcox. The river search was planned.

[NorthFairfaxBoy]

I am a member of a team that took part in a land search last year.  And we were recenlty told we maybe going back to this area to search again for (possible) remains.

[Chris Santee]

Sorry to bring you this news so close to Christmas, but

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF STATE POLICE
WILLISTON FIELD STATION

** PRESS RELEASE **

DATE OF RELEASE:      December 17, 2009
INCIDENT:    Homicide
CASE #:  06A105324
INVESTIGATOR:   Sgt. Lance Burnham
DATE OF INCIDENT:  November 2006         
LOCATION:  Westford, VT   

VICTIM:          Mary Wilcox, age 78 of Westford, VT

ACCUSED:      Jeanne Sevigny, age 59 of Westford, VT – Charged with 2nd Degree Homicide
(Daughter to the victim)

Greg Sevigny, age 30 of Westford, VT – Charge with Unlawful Disposal of a Human Body
(Grandson to the victim)

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On November 10th 2006 the Vermont State Police began an investigation into the disappearance of Mary Wilcox, age 78 of Westford, VT.   Wilcox, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, was residing and being cared for by her daughter, Jeanne Sevigny at the time of her disappearance at  Sevigny’s residence in Westford, Vermont.

During the initial investigation, Jeanne Sevigny was interviewed and provided detailed information concerning her mother’s disappearance. The information provided by Jeanne Sevigny led the Police to believe that Wilcox wandered away from the residence while Sevigny had left her unattended for several hours during the day of November 9th.

As a result of the information provided by Sevigny, the State Police initiated an extensive search of the area in an attempt to locate Wilcox.  In spite of these efforts, Wilcox was never located and the investigation has remained open and active since that time.  Additional leads in Wilcox’s disappearance therefore have been pursued over the years and there was an additional ground search of the area in July of 2007 in an attempt to locate Wilcox’s remains. 

Recently the State Police interviewed a person who came forward that provided new information in the case, which contradicted Jeanne Sevigny’s account of her mother’s disappearance.

Acting on this new information, State Police Detectives interviewed Jeanne Sevigny and Greg Sevigny  concerning Wilcox’s disappearance.  Greg Sevigny is Jeanne Sevigny’s son and the grandson of Mary Wilcox.

As a result of these interviews and additional investigation it was learned that Jeanne Sevigny was actually responsible for her mother’s death. Detectives further learned that following Wilcox’s death, Jeanne Sevigny had burned Wilcox’s body on her property in an attempt to conceal her death. The remains were then given to Sevigny’s son, Greg, for disposal. Greg Sevigny then buried Wilcox’s remains with the assistance of a friend in a wooded area in Westford, Vermont.  Jeanne Sevigny then reported her missing on November 10th and lied to Police concerning the true circumstances of Wilcox’s disappearance.

As a result of this investigation, Jeanne Sevigny was arrested for the offense of 2nd degree murder and will be arraigned in Chittenden District Court on December  17, 2009 at 10:30 hours. Greg Sevigny was also arrested for the offense of Unlawful Disposal of a Human Body and will also be arraigned at the same location and time. Greg Sevigny’s friend, which assisted in burying Wilcox’s remains, is cooperating with Detectives and no criminal charges are being filed at this time. 

This investigation is still active at this time. State Police intend on conducting new searches to locate and recover Wilcox’s remains based on the new information learned during this investigation.

 

[Henry]

For photos and story, click on the following link:

http://www.wptz.com/news/21991343/detail.html

[Henry]

Westford Elementary School is closed today while police search for evidence:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091217/NEWS02/91217004/Daughter-charged-in-mother-s-murder

[Henry]

Westford School administration chose to close school today, December 17, in support of an active Vermont State Police investigation occurring on school property.  This investigation does not involve students or school employees.

School administration is in communication with Vermont State Police and will determine if it is appropriate to re-open school Friday, December 18.  A telephone message to families and employees concerning the status of school on Friday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. this evening.

[Chris Santee]

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF STATE POLICE
WILLISTON FIELD STATION

** UPDATED PRESS RELEASE **

UPDATED INFORMATION
DATE OF RELEASE:  December 17, 2009
ISSUED BY: Sgt. Tara Thomas, Public Information Officer

DETAILS:

The Vermont State Police spent the day searching and processing two crimes scenes that are in connection with the alleged murder of Mary Wilcox, age 78 of Westford who was reported missing in November 2006.  Jeanne Sevigny’s residence in Westford, and a wooded area behind the Westford Elementary School are the two crime scenes that are being searched at this time.  The search processes for both scenes are expected to continue into tomorrow.  Undisclosed items of possible interest at the Sevigny residence were collected and will be sent to the Vermont Forensic Laboratory for analysis.   

No further information will be provided this evening.  Updated press releases pertaining to the search efforts will be issued when necessary.  The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office is responsible for all further media inquiries.

[Henry]

Absolutely unbelievable.  Burlington Free Press On Line has the murder affadavit and lots of information at:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091217/NEWS02/91217004/Police-Westford-woman-was-murdered

[Henry]

If you would like to read the affadavit, it is in a pdf format and is quite detailed on what happened in this case.  It comes up in a small size, but you can increase it from 43% to 100% if you wish so you can read it:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/PDF/20091217_affidavitwestford.pdf

[Henry]

WESTFORD — Searchers are back on the scene of an elementary school and a home in Westford, looking for the remains of a 78-year-old grandmother who was shot to death, burned and then buried.

Vermont State Police crime scene investigators are looking for the remains of Mary Wilcox, a woman who had Alzheimer's disease and was reported missing by her family three years ago. On Thursday, police charged her daughter — 59-year-old Jeanne Sevigny — with killing her. Her grandson, 30-year-old Greg Sevigny, is charged with disposing of the remains.

The search is centered on a wooded area behind Westford Elementary School.

State Police Sgt. Tara Thomas says it's a large area and police don't know where the remains were buried.

[Chris Santee]

I was surprised to find out Westford Elementary sits on about 77 acres of Chittenden County land.

[trussell]

Chris- Last time I checked, Westford was still located in Chittenden County...

[Chris Santee]

Exactly, trussell, doesn't that seem like an excessive amount of land for a school to own ?
What do you figure 77 acres of Chittenden County land is worth ?

I wasn't surprised the school was in Chittenden.
I was surprised at the amount of land it owns.

[Chris Santee]

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF STATE POLICE
WILLISTON FIELD STATION

** UPDATED PRESS RELEASE **
UPDATED INFORMATION

DATE OF RELEASE:  December 18, 2009
ISSUED BY: Sgt. Tara Thomas, Public Information Officer

DETAILS:

During the day of December 18th, the Vermont State Police continued their investigation into the death of Mary Wilcox of Westford, VT.  The search of the Sevigny’s residence was concluded, however the State Police continue to search the wooded area behind the Westford Elementary School for Ms. Wilcox’s remains.  The search efforts in this area is anticipated to continue throughout the weekend.  Further press releases will be issued as new information develops.

[MikeF9]

How much land does BFA Fairfax own?
Maybe Westford has plans for the far future.
Probably be worth more if it was in Essex.