Mary Pat O'Hagan
Mark O'Hagan
Sheffield, Vermont - September 12, 2010
Vermont State Police are now calling the case of a missing Sheffield woman suspicious.
Mary Pat O'Hagan was last seen Friday evening. The Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, the Sheffield Fire Department and other local authorities have conducted an extensive search for the 78-year-old woman since Saturday -- when she failed to show up for a meeting. "She is a member of a quilting group and she had an appointment that morning that she did not make which is very unusual," said Vermont State Police Capt. David Covell.
O'Hagan's car was still parked in front of her house where she had parked it Friday night. The Vermont State Police mobile crime lab and canine units assisted in the investigation which is expected to continue overnight and into Monday. The case was upgraded Sunday to a missing persons case with suspicious circumstances. "The potential for foul play is a factor," Covell said.
Mark O'Hagan is the youngest of Mary's five children and said this is not normal behavior for her. "Our mom was a very consistent woman -- a creature of habit and it's completely out of character for her to be missing for this long without speaking to family or friends," he said.
Mary Pat O'Hagan was active -- known to walk a lot -- and police says she played an integral part in the community. "She is very well known in the community and very active -- that has been demonstrated by the fact of the outpour we've seen over the last 48 hours from the community wanting to assist in the investigation," Covell said.
Police are offering up to a $5000 reward for anyone with any information that could lead to solving the case. "We're looking for any information for anyone that may have had contact with Mary Pat and anybody that may have seen her since she was last seen late Friday afternoon," Covell said.
Gina Bullard - WCAX News
