Sheffield, Vermont - September 9, 2011
It's a murder mystery that rocked this small town. One year after 78-year-old Pat O'Hagan was kidnapped from her Sheffield home and killed, residents here are still waiting for answers.
"There's been an emptiness in the village and you go by her house and there's always that wondering why or who," said Suzanne Bartlett, O'Hagan's friend.
Vermont State police, surrounded by O'Hagan's family, tried to offer comfort Friday, reassuring the community that this case has not gone cold-- even releasing a nugget of new information.
Reporter Jennifer Reading: Do you believe that one person is involved in Pat's abduction and murder or do you believe there may be several people involved?
Maj. Ed Ledo: Based upon the investigation and the evidence obtained we believe that more than one individual is responsible for this crime.
But there are several details about this shocking murder that Ledo would not reveal.
Reading: Can you comment if your suspects are members of this community or a neighboring community?
Ledo: No.
Investigators are also keeping O'Hagan's cause of death under wraps. Nearly three weeks after she was abducted, her body was found in the woods 10 miles from her home. Police still won't say if she was targeted, but they do not believe the public is at risk. Residents aren't so sure. With O'Hagan's killers still out there this community says its small town sense of security is gone.
"I don't go out and walk," Bartlett said. "I don't like to go out at night when we would go out for meetings and stuff. So, yeah, it's in the back of your mind."
But O'Hagan's children remain optimistic that they'll get justice for their mom.
"We know it's going to be solved," son Matthew O'Hagan said. "We know we're going to be able to close this out. We know we're going to be able to say bye to mom officially when it's closed."
But until that closure comes, her kids lean on each other to weather the emotional rollercoaster of not knowing.
"Keep close to your family and friends," Matthew O'Hagan advised. "They're the ones that help you. They're the ones that help you keep through these types of scenarios."
Police continue to ask for the public's help. There is a $25,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of Pat O'Hagan's killers. And police promise to pull in any necessary resources.
Anyone with information is asked to call Vt. State Police in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111, the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355 or Northeast Crime Stoppers at 802-748-2222.
Jennifer Reading - WCAX News
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Pat O'Hagan
