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(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/sueann37/d618-Missing-Woman.jpg)


Abduction of woman, 78, unnerves Vermont village
By LISA RATHKE, AP
46 minutes ago

 SHEFFIELD, Vt. — After moving to northern Vermont, Pat O'Hagan immersed herself in crafts, kayaking, and volunteering at a local food bank and the historical society. The 78-year-old widow, who lives alone, was so hardy she would go camping by herself, sleeping in a tent.

So when she missed out on a rug-hooking meeting Saturday — no one was home when a friend came to pick her up — it was out of character. Investigators believe she was probably abducted Friday night, and the FBI and State Police are scouring fields, barns and woods in and around Sheffield.

Shaken, people in the sleepy hamlet have taken the unusual step of locking houses and cars, fearing a criminal is on the loose. O'Hagan's family, meanwhile, is pleading for anyone with information to come forward.

"Pat was well known in the community; she was very active. If you knew where she was, what she was doing, what she may not have been doing, please come forward; it's going to help us," son Terry O'Hagan, of Groton, Mass., said at a news conference this week, surrounded by his three brothers and three aunts. "We know that somebody's out there that knows, whether you're involved, whether you're not involved, whether you know, please come forward and help us."

State Police asked the FBI for help and have offered a $5,000 reward. Authorities aren't saying who they think might have abducted O'Hagan, originally from Chelmsford, Mass., or why. But they say there's no reason to believe she just wandered off.

Terry O'Hagan, 47, said his parents moved to Vermont 15 years ago and renovated the house before his father died in 2001. Pat O'Hagan is not rich, according to her son, who says the grandmother of nine is "very prudent, frugal."

A Vermont National Guard helicopter on a search buzzed overhead Thursday while police continued their work from a command post set up at the village municipal building. Meanwhile, plans continued for a 5 p.m. chicken pie supper for which O'Hagan had signed up to provide some of the trimmings.

A dozen State Police detectives and two FBI agents were on the scene.

"Detectives are following up on leads, doing interviews, trying to develop any sort of information that would lead us in a direction," said Sgt. Tara Thomas, a State Police spokeswoman.

The disappearance and resulting search are beyond rare for Sheffield, a town of 727 people with no stores and no stoplights.

"It's one of those towns where the sign says 'Entering Sheffield' on one side and 'Leaving Sheffield' on the other," said Vincent Illuzzi, prosecutor in a neighboring county.

Illuzzi, who is not involved in the case, theorizes that if she was abducted it was not random, but by someone who had contact with her in some way.

"It's real scary," said Tammy Jacoby, 47, who lives at the edge of town.

Jacoby said her 12-year-old niece now comes to her house after school instead of going home alone since O'Hagan's disappearance.

Nanette Moreau, 43, who has lived in Sheffield since 1997, said she never locked the doors until now.

"Everybody's scared," she said.

I hope my gut feeling is so wrong . . .

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13146247
Police offer few details on NEK search
September 13, 2010

(snip)

The 78-year-old vanished. She didn't meet a friend as expected this weekend, and no one's seen her since Friday. Neighbors say she's sharp, active, and outgoing. O'Hagan's car is still sitting in her driveway.
(snip)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view.bg?articleid=1281885&srvc=rss
FBI joins search for missing Vermont woman, 78
September 16, 2010

I don't feel good about it either Sister. They say money is not a motive, but you never know. Some crack heads kill for a couple of dollars, and I'm afraid they are everywhere. Even a small town like this. But why wouldn't they take her car?

I know, it is a puzzlement.

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/vermont-police-press-search-for-missing-grandmother-mary-pat-ohagan/19637926?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%7C171258

Vt. Police Press Search for Missing Grandmother
AOL News
(Sept. 17) -- Authorities pressed their search today for Mary Pat O'Hagan, a 78-year-old grandmother who mysteriously vanished from her Sheffield, Vt., home. They say she may have been abducted.

"[We] have our search and rescue teams searching areas throughout the town," Vermont State Police Sgt. Tara Thomas told AOL News. "We [also] have a dive team that is assessing a quarry, just because it is in the area and we are going to rule it out. ... That is basically what the day is like today, minus the aerial search [that was conducted Thursday]."


Police believe Mary Pat O'Hagan, 78, may have been abducted from her home in Sheffield, Vt.
O'Hagan was last seen at her Route 122 home on Sept. 10. The following morning, she failed to meet a friend for a rug-making session and authorities were notified. O'Hagan's car was found parked in her driveway, but police found no sign of her in her house or the surrounding area.

State police began an immediate search for O'Hagan, using members of a local search and rescue group, along with support from the Sheffield Fire Department and community volunteers, but they were unable to locate her.

On Sunday, a state police search team was called in to comb through O'Hagan's house for any clues that might lead to her whereabouts. Shortly after that search was conducted, authorities reclassified her disappearance as a missing-person case with suspicious circumstances. They also requested the FBI's assistance.

Authorities believe O'Hagan's disappearance is the result of a criminal act and suspect she was taken from her residence on Sept. 10.

"It is being ruled an abduction," Thomas said, without providing any specific details. "We don't want to jeopardize the integrity of the investigation," she added. "We all want the same outcome."

According to The Associated Press, O'Hagan, a grandmother of nine, moved to Vermont from Chelmsford, Mass., with her late husband about 15 years ago. Family members have described her as a mentally alert and physically active woman, who enjoys camping and kayaking.

"She's far from elderly," O'Hagan's friend Mary Sargent told the AP. "She's very full of life."

Earlier this week, O'Hagan's son, Terry, 47, appeared with state police for a media briefing on the case. During the press conference, O'Hagan asked the public to come forward with any information.

"Pat was well known in the community, she was very active. If you knew where she was, what she was doing, what she may not have been doing, please come forward. It's going to help us," Terry O'Hagan told reporters. "We know that somebody's out there that knows. Whether you're involved, whether you're not involved, whether you know, please come forward and help us."

 
Officials believe O'Hagan's abduction is an isolated incident, but they are asking residents of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom to be cautious. Community members are encouraged to report any suspicious people or activities.

The Vermont State Police is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that "leads to the resolution of the investigation or the whereabouts of O'Hagan," Thomas said.

O'Hagan is described as a white female, about 5 feet tall and 136 pounds. Investigators do not know what she was wearing at the time of her disappearance. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.
 

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13175368
Grandmother kidnapping case now 1 week old
September 17, 2010

"It's been a week," sighed Matt Brill of Sheffield. "Exactly a week today."

Seven days and still no sign of Pat O'Hagan: the popular and vibrant Sheffield village grandmother police say was forced from her home by a kidnapper. "We're just still in the dark about what's going on," Brill said.

Investigators call the 78-year-old's abduction an isolated incident, but aren't revealing a motive, naming a suspect, or discussing any evidence. Vt. State Police Maj. Ed Ledo and Capt. David Covell repeatedly declined to answer many questions from reporters earlier this week.

Lots of "no comments" come as no surprise to Robin Adler. "The fact police aren't releasing information is typical," she said.

Adler is a former defense attorney who handled several kidnapping cases in California. She now teaches classes on justice at Norwich University. Adler explains if detectives say too much, that could risk tipping off suspects, compromising the victim's safety, contaminating evidence, and damaging a future prosecution.

"In an abduction case, it's not a public safety issue. They're concerned with the safety of one person: the person who's abducted. And building a case; making sure that case will stand up in court," Adler said.

Today, the Vermont State Police scuba team dove into a quarry on private property in Sheffield looking for evidence, but found nothing. Detectives continue talking to Northeast Kingdom residents and following up on leads. "Stranger abductions are rare," Adler noted.

Adler says police are likely reconstructing O'Hagan's travels leading up to last Friday, looking at people she may have had casual contact with. The lawyer says ransoms are uncommon, despite what you may have seen in thriller movies. Rage, revenge, domestic violence, parental custody disputes and sexual assaults are more typical in kidnapping cases.


"There's some kind of connection," Adler said of most kidnappers and their victims. "Not necessarily a familial connection or intimate connection, but there's some connection."

Recent high-profile cases involving kidnapping charges include the rapes and killings of UVM student Michelle Gardner-Quinn and Braintree 12-year-old Brooke Bennett. Security video from businesses in those cases helped point police to suspects, but investigators working the O'Hagan case-- in the rural town of 700 or 800-- may not have the advantage of surveillance tape. "There's no business here, all we have is a post office," Brill said.

Police plan to stay on the job through the weekend, hoping to put an end to the worrying in Sheffield. "No word, no suspect," Brill said. "Pretty creepy."

This weekend the State Police Search and Rescue Team will lead area ATV clubs and fire departments in more outdoor searches. They're hoping nice weather this weekend means more people will be outside, meaning more chances to find Pat O'Hagan-- or, at least, some clues.

Vermont State Police continue offering a $5,000 cash reward for significant information in the case. They're asking the public to call them with tips at the barracks in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.

Ok somebody explain it to me -- how is an abduction of a 78-year old woman not a public safety issue?  Because it's personal and whoever took her would never take anyone else? or do any more harm (like stealing a car, etc) while in the commission of the non-public safety abduction . . .

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/09/19/general-us-abducted-grandmother_7941456.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews

Associated Press
Police seek help finding missing Vt. grandmother
Associated Press, 09.19.10, 06:13 PM EDT 


SHEFFIELD, Vt. -- Vermont state police probing the disappearance of a 78-year-old grandmother are appealing for help from anyone who took photographs or video at a Labor Day event in her town.

Pat O'Hagan was reported missing Sept. 11. Police believe the widow and grandmother of nine was abducted from her home in Sheffield, a town so small it has no stores and no stoplights.

O'Hagan is from Chelmsford, Mass., but moved to northern Vermont 15 years ago. She lives alone and likes camping and kayaking. Authorities say she's mentally alert and there's no reason to believe she wandered off.

Detectives continued following up leads over the weekend. Area all-terrain vehicle clubs and volunteer fire departments pitched in.

Investigators on Sunday asked to hear from anyone who took pictures at the annual Sheffield Field Day event Sept. 6.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13186634
O'Hagan search prompts memories of cold case
September 2010

There is still no word on where a Northeast Kingdom woman, feared kidnapped, may be. Detectives are following up on tips on the travels of Pat O'Hagan and now are asking the public for some specific help.

One of the biggest public events in Sheffield in recent weeks was the annual Sheffield Field Days on Labor Day. Police want anyone who was at that event to give them snapshots, home video, or even cell phone photos. They're not saying exactly how the photos may assist them in the O'Hagan case.

Friends of another missing woman say any clues from the public may help O'Hagan's family avoid a lifetime of wondering. "Seventeen years is a long time, but it's just like yesterday for a lot of us," said Lisa England. England and her husband have spent nearly 20 years wondering what happened to their friend Audrey Groat.

"We kind of know what we think is the worst, but we can't prove it," Steve England said.

The Englands called police when Groat didn't pick up her daughter up from their house in August of 1993. The Northfield woman is presumed dead; the victim of a homicide, but her body has never been found.

Now, the case of another missing Vermont woman, Sheffield grandmother Pat O'Hagan, hits close to home for the Englands. "It brings you back to that day," Lisa England said.

Vermont State Police say O'Hagan was forcibly snatched from her home on Route 122. Her family says she was not wealthy and was a single widow. They don't know who would want to target the popular and outgoing grandmother. Detectives and the FBI are now piecing together her travels, moving their operation this week from Sheffield to St. Johnsbury.

"My heart goes out to the O'Hagan family," Lisa England said. "Don't give up hope!"

Lisa England was at the park & ride in Montpelier four years ago, remembering her friend Audrey. It's where she was last seen; where her friends and family set up a cross saying "I looked for you today, just like yesterday, as I will tomorrow."

"It's so easy for other people to forget and move on, but when this has happened to you, you can't move on," said Jamesina Cote, Audrey Groat's youngest daughter, in an interview from August 2006.

Pat O'Hagan's kids have said they're not giving up hope police or search crews will find their mom safe. "We'll be here with them as long as it takes," Mark O'Hagan said.

In missing persons cases, the searching is not what's hard for loved ones, It's the not finding -- and not knowing. "And if you hear something, pass it along," Lisa England pleaded. "It may not be important to you. But it could be important to someone else."

Audrey Groat has 17 grandchildren she never got to meet. Her friends and family are encouraged by recent cracks in cold cases like the recent conviction of Howard Godfrey for the rape and murder of Patricia Scoville in Stowe back in 1991.

State Police have a website with 15 missing Vermonters on it, including Audrey Groat, and now, Pat O'Hagan. Click here to visit the Vermont State Police's mising persons page.

If you have photos or video of the Sheffield Field Days, whether or not they show Pat O'Hagan, police would like to hear from you. Vermont State Police continue offering a $5,000 cash reward for significant information in the case. They're asking the public to call them with tips at the barracks in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.

http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vtsp/missing/
Vermont State Police
Department of Public Safety

MISSING
Page last updated September 17, 2010

The Vermont State Police are actively seeking information leading to the whereabouts of the following missing persons. If you have any information which would be helpful, please contact the Vermont State Police. You can find more information about each of these missing people by clicking on their picture.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation can be reached by contacting your local State Police station, the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355, or by using the contact information provided in each case profile.

Note to Police Agencies - Submissions to this site should go through Lt. Mark Lauer. You may use this e-mail link.

***REWARD***

The Vermont State Police is offering a reward of up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the resolution of active “Major Case” investigations and/or information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for these crimes. The Vermont State Police offers rewards on specific major cases with an emphasis on unsolved homicides and missing persons where foul play is suspected. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation can be reached by contacting your local State Police station, the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355, or by using the contact information provided in the case profile.

    _____________

    9/13/10 - Latest case - Mary Pat O'Hagan - Reward Offered - See Details

(http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vtsp/press/OHagan_Mary.jpg)

MISSING
MARY PAT O'HAGAN

Last Seen: 9/10/10

Age When Last Seen: 78

Race: White

Height:  5’

Weight: 136 lbs.

Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Grey


INFORMATION FROM PRESS STATEMENT 9/14/10

On Saturday, September 11th the Vermont State Police began an investigation into the disappearance of  Pat O’Hagan of Sheffield, Vermont .  Ms. Hagen was reported missing by a close friend after she failed to show up for an appointment earlier that morning that she was never known to miss. Pat was last known to be seen sometime during late afternoon on Friday, September 10th.

As a result of this information, the Vermont State Police initiated a search for Pat O’Hagan using members of our Search and Rescue Team and Troopers from the St. Johnsbury  Barracks combined with support from the Sheffield Fire Department and members of the local community.  Detectives from the State Police Criminal Division were also assigned to the investigation to assist in locating Pat and investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.  State Police K-9’s and a bloodhound provided by the Lyndonville Police Department were also utilized in the search.

On Sunday, September 12th the investigation into Pat’s disappearance continued as well as the search effort. As part of this investigation the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team was activated to process Pat’s home in the center of Sheffield Village.  As a result of the fact that Pat had still not been located and circumstances revealed from the criminal investigation, Pat’s disappearance was reclassified as a Missing Persons case with suspicious circumstances.
On Monday, September 13th, State Police Detectives continued the investigation into Pat’s disappearance following up on leads generated by investigation itself and those that had been provided by the public. The search effort also continued, expanding the search area from the Sheffield Village area to the outlying parts of town.

Today the search effort continued for Pat utilizing State Troopers, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as air support from the Vermont National Guard.  The search effort has continued to expand from the Town of Sheffield into the neighboring towns.

With the potential for the scope of this investigation expanding and due to our close working relationship with the FBI, we have requested the FBI’s assistance with this investigation.

Also in an effort to keep the public informed, we are advising that we believe that Pat’s disappearance is the result of a criminal act and that she was likely abducted from her residence sometime during the late afternoon or evening hours of Friday, September 10th.

The State Police would like to re-emphasize that assistance from the public is crucial and that anyone who has any information regarding this case is asked to contact the Vermont State Police in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111.  The State Police offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that will help lead to the resolution of this investigation.

This investigation is a top priority and the State Police are devoting all available resources to resolving this case and hope that Pat will safely be returned.
Pat’s family members attended the press conference and her son, Terry O’Hagan provided a brief statement on behalf of the family.  Captain Covell extended the State Police’s appreciation for their courage, patience, cooperation and support throughout the investigation and thanked the local community for their efforts in the investigation as well.

UPDATE 9/13/10 4:19 p.m.

The Vermont State Police have no new information on the search for missing Mary Pat O’Hagan.  The search and investigative efforts will continue.  No further statements will be made until further information becomes available.

INFORMATION UPDATE 9/12/10

The Vermont State Police will resume investigative and search efforts for Ms. O’Hagan throughout the evening and into tomorrow.  Due to the circumstances of the investigation, the Vermont State Police is offering a reward  of up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the resolution of this investigation.  This reward is for specific major cases with an emphasis on unsolved homicides and missing persons where foul play is suspected. Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Johnsbury Barracks at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.  Click here for more information pertaining to the reward offered.

UPDATED INFORMATION 9/12/10 - 2:57 p.m. 9/12/10
The Vermont State Police have upgraded the missing person case involving Mary Pat O’Hagan, age 78 of Sheffield, VT to a missing person case with suspicious circumstances.  The Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team was called to process Ms. O’Hagan’s residence located on Rt. 122 in Sheffield.  Search efforts continue with the help of the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, the Sheffield Fire Department and other local support.  
 
The State Police will provide a brief statement at the Union 37 Miller’s Run School located on Rt. 122 in Sheffield at 5:00 PM this evening.  
 
The public is urged to call the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury Barracks at 802-748-3111 if they have any information pertaining to this investigation or observed any recent suspicious activity or persons in the area of 3064 VT RT 122 in Sheffield.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

On September 10, 2010, the Vermont State Police received a report of a missing elderly woman from Sheffield.  A concerned neighbor reported that Mary Pat O’Hagan, age 78, had not been seen since last evening when she arrived home and parked her vehicle in her driveway, which is still at her residence.  Ms. O’Hagan missed an 8:00 AM meeting with a friend this morning, which is uncharacteristic of her.  Ms. O’Hagan is known to walk a lot and is an active member in her community.

It is unknown what Ms. O’Hagan was wearing when she was last seen on Friday (9/10/10) evening.  

The Vermont State Police is asking the public if they have seen Ms. O’Hagan since last evening, to please call the State Police St. Johnsbury Barracks at 802-748-3111.  

Really not looking good at all.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13199829
Reward boosted in case of kidnapped Sheffield woman
September 22, 2010

The reward has been raised for information that helps solve the mystery of a missing woman in the Northeast Kingdom.

Pat O'Hagan, 78, disappeared almost two weeks ago. Police believe she was kidnapped from her home on Route 122.

The FBI, state police and O'Hagan's family are all offering rewards totaling $20,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

And O'Hagan's family has launched a new web site -- www.findpatohagan.com.

A candlelight vigil is planned in support of the family Thursday night at the Town Hall in Sheffield.

Vermont State Police are still asking the public to call them with tips at the barracks in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTP-jiY-gFUqILG72HDKj6440-swD9ID6KIG1
Vigil, new website for missing Vt. grandmother

September 22, 2010

SHEFFIELD, Vt. — A candlelight vigil has been scheduled for a grandmother police believe was abducted from her home in a tiny Vermont town.

Seventy-eight-year-old Pat O'Hagan was reported missing Sept. 11 from her home in Sheffield, a town so small it has no stores or stoplights.

State police are offering $5,000 for information leading to the prosecution of the person or people responsible. The FBI is offering $10,000. O'Hagan's family is offering up to $5,000.

The vigil will be held Thursday evening at Town Hall in Sheffield. O'Hagan's family will attend.

The family has established a website called findpatohagan.com to help locate the widowed grandmother of nine.

O'Hagan is originally from Chelmsford, Mass. Relatives say she's an active part of the community who likes camping and kayaking.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13214605
Family, friends: Don't forget Pat O'Hagan
September 24, 2010

Friends and family of a missing Northeast Kingdom grandmother are pleading to the public to not forget her.

Vermont State Police say Pat O'Hagan was abducted from her home on Route 122 in Sheffield. She was last seen Sept. 10. Investigators have not named a suspect or said why O'Hagan was targeted.

As the search for the kidnapping victim continues, O'Hagan's loved ones urge anyone with information to call State Police at the St. Johnsbury barracks.

"We live in a time when the media-- the 24-hour news cycle-- has stories that come and go so quickly that I'd like everyone to remember her face. I'm glad her picture's been in the paper enough. So that if someone sees the picture, they'll remember," said Father Pat Forman of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.

Investigators have upped the cash reward for information in the case and O'Hagan's family has launched a new website -- www.FindPatOHagan.com.

Vermont State Police are still asking the public to call them with tips at the barracks in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News

http://www.examiner.com/family-in-burlington/pat-o-hagan-s-family-seeks-help-finding-abducted-mother
Pat O'Hagan's family seeks help in finding abducted mother
September 25, 2010



Pat O'Hagan's family has launched a website to coordinate efforts to find O’Hagan, a mother, grandmother, widow, and active community volunteer who has been missing since September 11.  Volunteers organized a candlelight vigil Thursday evening.  Police believe the 78 year-old was abducted from her home in Sheffield, Vermont.

Search

The search for her included “ground and air searches of barns, fields, a quarry and woods, with volunteers joining with police detectives, firefighters and all-terrain vehicle clubs,” The Burlington Free Press reports.

Barring any new evidence, the police have called off ground searches although the investigation continues “aggressive and active,” according to the Vermont State Police.

Website

O’Hagan’s family seeks help directly from the community.  The website devoted to locating their mother is:  www.findpatohagan.com.  The family wrote, "We have been overwhelmed by the support provided by many close friends, our extended friends and family and the local community in the search for our mom, Pat O’Hagan.”

“Our Mom was a tireless supporter of many organizations in the Northeast kingdom. She volunteered at the local food bank, library, historic preservation, St. Elizabeth church and was involved in many activities for the town of Sheffield.”

On the website, viewers can submit information or donate to the reward fund.

Vigil

Nearly two hundred folks showed their support in Sheffield at a candlelight vigil outside the town hall on Thursday.  The Burlington Free Press reported her son, Matt O’Hagan, vowing, “We’re committed to find our mom.  We know she’s out there. Somebody came in, did something they shouldn’t have done. But we know somebody has some information. Please, talk to your friends.”

"Remember her face"

WCAX quoted Father Pat Forman of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, "We live in a time when the media-- the 24-hour news cycle-- has stories that come and go so quickly that I'd like everyone to remember her face. I'm glad her picture's been in the paper enough. So that if someone sees the picture, they'll remember.”

Report information

 To report information, call the Vermont State Police at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.  Or submit information via the new website.   Up to $20,000 is offered for information leading to Pat O'Hagan.

http://www.necn.com/10/01/10/Prayer-service-Friday-for-missing-Vt-wom/landing_newengland.html?&blockID=3&apID=008f19664b5248ce8ec0a877373ab3e6
Prayer service Friday for missing Vt. woman
October 1, 2010

SHEFFIELD, Vt. (AP) — Three weeks after a Vermont grandmother was likely abducted from her Sheffield home, the community will be holding a prayer service for her.

Seventy-eight-year-old Pat O'Hagan was reported missing Sept. 11. Her family has put out a flyer reminding the public that a $20,000 reward — from the Vermont State Police, FBI and family — has been offered for information leading to the prosecution of the person or people responsible.

The Vermont State Police say they and the FBI continue to aggressively investigate the case.

The prayer service is planned for Friday at 6 p.m. at the Sheffield Town House.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13250205
3 weeks later, no sign of Pat O'Hagan
October 1, 2010

Three weeks have now passed and there's still no sign of a missing grandmother from Sheffield.

Seventy-eight-year-old Pat O'Hagan disappeared Friday, Sept. 10. Her car was left in her driveway and police believe she was kidnapped from her home.

Numerous searches, on the ground and in the air, have turned up no signs of the missing grandmother. The FBI, state police and O'Hagan's family are offering rewards totaling $20,000 to anyone who helps solve the mystery.

The community is planning a prayer service for O'Hagan Friday night. It will be held at the Sheffield Town House on Berry Hill Road at 6 p.m.

Remains found near where Vt. woman disappeared

Monday, October 4, 2010; 11:33 AM

WHEELOCK, Vt. -- Police in Vermont say a woman's body has been found within miles of the home of a grandmother who disappeared.

Investigators say they are exploring the possibility that the remains are those of Pat O'Hagan.

The 78-year-old was reported missing on Sept. 11. Police have said they believe she was abducted from her home in Sheffield, Vt. The remains were found in a wooded area of neighboring Wheelock, Vt., on Sunday.

An autopsy will be performed Monday to try to identify the body and cause of death.

State police will are planning a Monday afternoon news conference.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/AR2010100402868.html

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1594957763/Family-crisis-prompts-postponement-of-Framingham-housing-lottery
Family crisis prompts postponement of Framingham housing lottery
October 4, 2010

FRAMINGHAM —

The town's housing lottery, scheduled for tomorrow night, has been postponed, as the lottery agent from the town of Harvard deals with a family crisis that has played out on the national news.

MCO Housing Services Director Maureen O'Hagan's mother, Pat O'Hagan, 78, was believed to be abducted from her Sheffield, Vt., home last month. She was last seen on Sept. 10.

The Associated Press today reported police found a woman's remains in a wooded area of neighboring Wheelock, Vt. on Sunday. Investigators were exploring the possibility that the body is that of Pat O'Hagan.

Maureen O'Hagan is in charge of selling three downtown homes the town of Framingham purchased and renovated as part of its Neighborhood Stabilization Plan.

"Our prayers are with her and her family at this time," Gene Kennedy, in the town's Community and Economic Development Office, said this afternoon.

Kennedy said town is postponing the live lottery that had been scheduled for tomorrow night in the Memorial Building to a new date that hasn't yet been determined.
(snip)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/10/womans_remains.html
Woman's remains found in Vermont near where former Mass. resident abducted
October 4, 2010

State Police in Vermont say they have found the remains of a woman's body about 10 miles from the home where a grandmother had been abducted last month.

Major Ed Ledo, commander of the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, said in a statement that troopers are investigating whether the remains are those of Pat O'Hagan, 78, who disappeared from her home in Sheffield, Vt., around Sept. 10. She is originally from Chelmsford, Mass.

Ledo said a local camper found the remains on Sunday in a wooded area of neighboring Wheelock.

He declined to provide details about the body or the manner in which it was found.
An autopsy will be performed to try to identify the body and cause of death.

O’Hagan’s relatives did not return calls and police declined to answer questions.
(snip)

http://www.necn.com/10/04/10/Police-await-autopsy-results-of-body-fou/landing_newengland.html?blockID=324442&feedID=4206
(Video)
(Link to Monday 10/4  News Conf. in article)
Police await autopsy results of body found in VT
October 4, 2010

NECN: Anya Huneke, St. Johnsbury, VT) - It is not known whether human remains found in Wheelock, Vermont Sunday are that of a grandmother who has been missing for three weeks. State Police says bird hunters found the remains a town away from where Pat O'Hagan was last seen.

 A final identification won't be made until after an autopsy is
completed, but the remains are believed to be that of a female with
the same build as Pat O'Hagan, police said Monday.
The bird hunters found the body in Wheelock, about 10 miles from
O'Hagan's home in Sheffield, police said. The person had been the
victim of foul play, authorities said.
     
O'Hagan was reported missing on Sept. 11, after a friend arrived
to pick her up for a meeting and she wasn't there. O'Hagan, a widow
who camped, kayaked and lived alone, was an active member of the
community and mentally alert.
   
 Police haven't said what led them to believe she was abducted or
mentioned a possible motive. But authorities have said there was no
reason to believe that O'Hagan, a grandmother of nine who by all
accounts is mentally alert and physically active, just wandered
off.

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/88929/
(Link in article to listen to radio news cast)
Body Found Near Where Sheffield Woman Disappeared
October 4, 2010


(http://www.vpr.net/uploads/photos/original/pat_ohagan_with_children.jpg) Pat O'Hagan with her family

(Host) State Police believe they may have found the remains of the Northeast Kingdom woman who was apparently abducted from her Sheffield home about three weeks ago.

VPR's Charlotte Albright reports.

(Albright) Seventy-eight year old Mary Pat O'Hagan vanished on September 10th, and ever since then, a massive search has been conducted by the Vermont State Police and the FBI.

On Sunday around 5:30 p.m., hunters discovered what appear to be the remains of a woman with O'Hagan's build in a densely wooded area in Wheelock, about ten miles from O'Hagan's Sheffield home.

Major Ed Ledo, commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, says it shed new light on the case:

(Ledo) "If this is determined to be Pat O'Hagan then this is a critical point in this investigation; this gives us a little more to work on at this point. You know, we haven't let up in three weeks, nor do we intend to."

(Albright)  Although Ledo says he has more information than he is sharing publicly,  state police are still urging people  to come forward with tips about O'Hagan's disappearance, especially suspicious activity observed near the Horn Road in Wheelock, where the body was found.

Although there is a missing person investigation ongoing in New Hampshire, Major Ledo says signs point to the Sheffield case.

(Ledo) "The fact that we, in this area, have one missing female that hasn't been located, it's not unreasonable to believe that this could possibly be Ms. O'Hagan."

(Albright) Mary Pat'O'Hagan's family and many friends in this tight knit community say she was physically and mentally fit and unlikely to have wandered off on her own.

Her five children live out-of-state. Four have been staying in her house during the investigation and the fifth arrived in Vermont as the autopsy got under way.

For VPR News, I'm Charlotte Albright in Sheffield.

Remains identified as missing woman

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 5, 4 p.m.
Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Copyright 2010 The Keene Sentinel

Vermont State Police have confirmed that the remains of a human body found Sunday in Wheelock, Vt., are those of Mary Pat O'Hagan, who has been missing for more than a week.

They further confirmed that O'Hagan's death was a homicide. The cause of death has not been released, as police continue to search for O'Hagan's killer.

Read more in Wednesday's Sentinel or online after 12:30.


http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/10/05/news/local/free/doc4cab84c872291234081640.txt

Very sad news.  I'll move this to "Found Deceased".  TY for the update Nut.

Another one (well all of them really) -- I just hoped she would be found safe.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20101006/NEWS02/101005030/Sheffield-residents-saddened-by-woman-s-killing
Sheffield residents saddened by woman's killing
October 6, 2010

(snip)
Vermont State Police confirmed Tuesday that the body found by two bird hunters Sunday on Horn Road in Wheelock belonged to Pat O’Hagan of Sheffield. Police believe O’Hagan was abducted from her home, about 10 miles from where the bird hunters found her body.

At a news conference at state police headquarters in Waterbury, Maj. Ed Ledo provided few details of O’Hagan’s killing. Police have determined the cause of O’Hagan’s death but withheld the information to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation, Ledo said.

Ledo read a statement prepared by O’Hagan’s family members, who did not attend the conference.

“We are saddened by the news,” the family wrote. “It’s impossible to comprehend why someone would harm her.”

Ledo declined to say what evidence led police to believe that O’Hagan had been kidnapped after she had been reported missing Sept. 11. He also would not say whether she had been sexually assaulted before her death.
(snip)
O’Hagan, who moved to Vermont 15 years ago from Chelmsford, Mass., was an active member of her town, serving as president of the Sheffield Historical Society, working a church’s annual chicken dinner and volunteering at a food pantry. She had nine grandchildren.

The Vermont Crime Lab in Waterbury is processing evidence in the case, and state police are reviewing a few dozen photos taken at the Sheffield Field Day on Sept. 6, Ledo said. Police had asked people to submit photos of the fair, which O’Hagan’s son said she attended.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they have some evidence and a suspect.

http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/10/06/news/state/free/id_414752.txt
Vermont homicide probe intensifies
October 6, 2010

Vermont State Police confirmed Tuesday that the remains of a human body found Sunday in Wheelock, Vt., are those of Mary Pat O’Hagan, who had been missing for more than a week.

Police also confirmed that O’Hagan’s death was a homicide. They said they know the cause of death but won’t divulge it, saying they want to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

According to the Associated Press, investigators used dental records to identify O’Hagan, a widow who had lived alone in Sheffield, a town of about 700 residents in Vermont’s northeastern corner. O’Hagan, who had nine grandchildren, was reported missing Sept. 11.

Police investigators had suspected O’Hagan was forcibly abducted.

Maj. Edward Ledo, chief of the state police’s criminal investigations bureau, announced the positive identification Tuesday at a news conference at state police headquarters in Waterbury, but wouldn’t comment on the condition of the body or whether there were suspects.

“Finding Mrs. O’Hagan has pushed this investigation into a new phase,” Ledo said in a statement. “We remain focused and continue to aggressively investigate this case.”

Police have said all along they did not suspect O’Hagan wandered off on her own.

Ledo read a statement on behalf of O’Hagan’s children, in which they called it “impossible to comprehend why someone would harm her.”

“Now that Pat’s been found, our family’s hopeful that someone will provide information that will lead to the person or persons responsible for her murder and justice will be served,” their statement said.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13280301
Funeral arrangements set for Pat O'Hagan
October 6, 2010

Funeral arrangements have been made for Pat O'Hagan, the 78-year-old grandmother Vermont State Police say was kidnapped and murdered.

Calling hours for the Sheffield woman are Sunday afternoon at the Guibord Funeral Home in Lyndonville. O'Hagan's funeral is Monday morning at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Lyndonville. After that, she will be laid to rest in Sheffield in the William Dexter Cemetery.

Instead of sending flowers, O'Hagan's children are asking Vermonters to support one of the nonprofits their mom most loved. Pat O'Hagan volunteered at the Sheffield Food Pantry, which serves about 200 families. You can send cash gifts to the pantry or drop off nonperishable food at the Sheffield Town Hall.

    * Sheffield Food Pantry
    * Town Hall, Route 122
    * Hours: 1st Wednesday of the month - 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (or 4 p.m. if they don't run out of food)
    * Contact: Greg Bryant - 802-745-7491
    * Mailing Address:
      SHEFFIELD FOOD PANTRY
      P.O. Box 36
      Sheffield, VT 05866

To send condolences to the relatives of Pat O'Hagan, you can mail them to:

O'Hagan Family
P.O. 95
Sheffield, VT 05866

Vermont State Police are still looking for Pat O'Hagan's killer. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information that helps police solve the case. They're asking the public to call them with tips at the barracks in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355.

http://www.necn.com/10/06/10/Friends-remember-Pat-OHagan-as-a-role-mo/landing_newengland.html?blockID=326034&feedID=4206
(video)
Friends remember Pat O'Hagan as a role model
October 6, 2010

NECN: Anya Huneke, Sheffield, VT) - On the first Wednesday of every month, the Sheffield Food Pantry comes to life in town hall, inviting residents of the northern Vermont community to stock up on essentials.

This week, the volunteer staff was one member short. Pay O'Hagan, the 78-year-old woman who always handled the paperwork, organized the senior program, delivered the meals, and made the donuts, was not there. Her friends learned one day earlier that she had been the victim of a homicide.

After a three week police investigation into O'Hagan's disappearance, hunters found human remains Sunday in the woods of Wheelock, ten miles from her home. Medical Examiners identified the body Tuesday as O'Hagan's.

One question has been answered... but many have not.  Since no arrests have been made .. police are keeping a lot of information to themselves-- including how O'Hagan died.  And until her killer is caught .. this community will remain on edge.

Carrying their unease and grief, volunteers ran the food pantry as scheduled wednesday.

Jars bearing O'Hagan's name were scattered around... collecting donations for community members in need.

Director Greg Bryant calls O'Hagan an inspiration and a role model, a vibrant woman who acted much younger than her 78 years, who spent much of her time helping others, and hasn't stopped even- to this day.