Bear Brook murders

Bear Brook murders
Marlyse Honeychurch, 24
Marie Vaughn, 7
Unidentified child, age 2-4
Sarah McWaters, 11 months
Victims of the Bear Brook murders
DateDisappeared in November 1978
Bodies found on November 10, 1985, and May 9, 2000
LocationBear Brook State Park, Allenstown, New Hampshire, U.S.
Also known asAllenstown Four
CauseBlunt trauma
Deaths
  • Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch
  • Marie Elizabeth Vaughn
  • Sarah Lynn McWaters
  • Unidentified daughter of Terry Rasmussen
SuspectsTerry Peder Rasmussen (alias Robert "Bob" Evans)[1]

The Bear Brook murders (also referred to as the Allenstown Four) are female American murder victims, two discovered in 1985 and two in 2000, at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire, United States.[2] All four of the victims were either partially or completely skeletonized; they were believed to have died between 1977 and 1981.[2][3][4]

In 2017, investigators named Terry Peder Rasmussen (1943–2010) as the most likely suspect. He was also confirmed, via DNA analysis, as the father of a 2-to-4-year-old girl who was one of the Bear Brook victims. Rasmussen is believed to be responsible for several other murders, including that of Denise Beaudin, his known girlfriend,[5] who disappeared in 1981. Rasmussen was convicted and sentenced for the murder in 2002 of his then-wife, Eunsoon Jun; he died in prison in 2010.[6]

In 2019, authorities announced that the three biologically related females had been identified as a mother, Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch, and her two daughters (of different biological fathers) Marie Elizabeth Vaughn and Sarah Lynn McWaters, last seen in November 1978. The middle child, referred to as Rasmussen's daughter, currently remains unidentified.[7] Based on the date they disappeared, available documents and Rasmussen's activities, the victims most likely died between 1978 and 1981.[8]

  1. ^ "True identity of serial killer who dumped bodies in barrels in NH has been determined". NH1. August 18, 2017. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference doe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference doj was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference mystery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Charley Project: Denise Beaudin". Charley Project. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  6. ^ "How a Jane Doe child case uncovered a serial killer, identified victims and changed the use of DNA forensics". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  7. ^ Hershberger, Andy (6 June 2019). "Woman, 2 children found in barrels in state park identified, officials say". WMUR. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference timeline was invoked but never defined (see the help page).