The Murder of Sarah Hunter (Vermont)
2Digest
Sarah Hunter, a golf pro in Manchester, Vermont, disappeared in September 1986. Her car was found abandoned, and despite extensive searches, no leads emerged for weeks. The case went cold until the discovery of her body in a cornfield, along with the remains of another missing girl, Paulette Crickmore. Edwin Town Jr. was arrested for Paulette's murder, but he was not linked to Sarah's case. Years later, David Allen Morrison, who had been interviewed early in the investigation, became a suspect after a crime spree in California. DNA testing on a hair found in his car linked him to Sarah, but the charges were later dismissed due to errors in evidence handling. The case remains unsolved, and Sarah's family continues to seek answers.
Outlines
Sarah Hunter's Disappearance
This Chapter details the disappearance of Sarah Hunter, a golf pro in Manchester, Vermont. She was reported missing by her co-worker when she failed to show up for work. Her car was found abandoned, and police initially dismissed the concern, but the discovery of her car changed their approach. They searched her car and apartment, but found no signs of foul play. Sarah's friends and family were baffled by her disappearance, as she had no known reason to leave town.
The Investigation Begins
This Chapter describes the initial investigation into Sarah Hunter's disappearance. Police interviewed her friends and co-workers, trying to piece together her last known movements. They searched wooded areas around the location of her car and offered a reward for information. Despite extensive efforts, the investigation stalled, and the case went cold.
A Clue Emerges
This Chapter details the discovery of Sarah Hunter's purse in a nearby town, providing a significant clue in the investigation. The purse was found by two boys riding bikes, and it was soaked from the rain, making it difficult to determine how long it had been there. The discovery suggested a nefarious element to Sarah's disappearance, but no further leads emerged.
A Possible Connection
This Chapter explores the potential connection between Sarah Hunter's disappearance and the disappearance of another young girl, Paulette Crickmore. Both girls vanished within an eight-day span, and investigators began comparing notes, hoping to find a link. The discovery of Paulette's body in the woods confirmed her murder, and the investigation into Sarah's case took a new direction.
Sarah Hunter's Body Found
This Chapter details the discovery of Sarah Hunter's body in a cornfield, confirming her murder. The autopsy revealed she had been strangled and sexually assaulted. The location of her body was roughly five miles from where her purse was found, shifting the focus of the investigation to the area where her body was discovered.
A Suspect Emerges
This Chapter describes the arrest of Edwin Town Jr. for the murder of Paulette Crickmore. Town had a history of violence and was considered a suspect early on in the investigation. Evidence found at his house linked him to the crime. While investigators considered a possible connection between Town and Sarah's murder, they found no evidence to support his involvement.
Keywords
Sarah Hunter
Sarah Hunter was a 32-year-old golf pro at the Manchester Country Club in Vermont. She disappeared on September 18, 1986, and her body was found in a cornfield on November 27, 1986. Her murder remains unsolved.
Manchester, Vermont
Manchester, Vermont is a town in Bennington County, Vermont. It is known for its scenic beauty and its golf courses, including the Manchester Country Club, where Sarah Hunter worked.
Paulette Crickmore
Paulette Crickmore was a 15-year-old girl who disappeared on September 10, 1986, in Richmond, Vermont. Her body was found in the woods near Duxbury, Vermont, on November 20, 1986. She was murdered by Edwin Town Jr.
Edwin Town Jr.
Edwin Town Jr. was arrested in December 1986 for the murder of Paulette Crickmore. He was convicted of the crime and remains incarcerated.
David Allen Morrison
David Allen Morrison was a suspect in Sarah Hunter's murder. He was interviewed early in the investigation and later arrested in California for a crime spree that included kidnapping, sexual assault, and robbery. DNA testing on a hair found in his car linked him to Sarah, but the charges were later dismissed due to errors in evidence handling.
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a type of DNA found in the mitochondria, which are organelles within cells. mtDNA is passed down almost unchanged from a mother to her children. It is often used in criminal investigations when nuclear DNA is degraded or unavailable.
Cold Case
A cold case is a criminal investigation that has been inactive for a significant period of time. Cold cases are often reopened when new evidence or leads emerge.
Unsolved Homicide
An unsolved homicide is a murder that has not been solved. Unsolved homicides can be frustrating for families and law enforcement alike.
Q&A
What happened to Sarah Hunter?
Sarah Hunter, a golf pro in Manchester, Vermont, disappeared in September 1986. Her body was found in a cornfield on November 27, 1986. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
Who was the main suspect in Sarah Hunter's murder?
David Allen Morrison was a suspect in Sarah Hunter's murder. He was interviewed early in the investigation and later arrested in California for a crime spree that included kidnapping, sexual assault, and robbery. DNA testing on a hair found in his car linked him to Sarah, but the charges were later dismissed due to errors in evidence handling.
Why were the charges against David Allen Morrison dismissed?
The charges against David Allen Morrison were dismissed because a case officer had sent vacuumings from Sarah Hunter's car to the FBI for testing, not from David's car. This meant that the hair believed to tie David to Sarah's murder was actually found in her personal vehicle.
Is Sarah Hunter's murder still unsolved?
Yes, Sarah Hunter's murder remains unsolved. The case was reopened in 2009 after a California detective interviewed David Allen Morrison about another unsolved murder. DNA testing on a hair found in David's car linked him to Sarah, but the charges were later dismissed due to errors in evidence handling. The case is currently inactive, but it could be reopened if new evidence emerges.
What is mitochondrial DNA testing?
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a type of DNA found in the mitochondria, which are organelles within cells. mtDNA is passed down almost unchanged from a mother to her children. It is often used in criminal investigations when nuclear DNA is degraded or unavailable.
What is a cold case?
A cold case is a criminal investigation that has been inactive for a significant period of time. Cold cases are often reopened when new evidence or leads emerge.
What is an unsolved homicide?
An unsolved homicide is a murder that has not been solved. Unsolved homicides can be frustrating for families and law enforcement alike.
Show Notes
Sarah Hunter was only 15 minutes late for work when her coworker called police to report her missing, but despite his swift action, Sarah’s case would go cold and stay that way for years.
Decades later, an individual known to the case from the earliest days of the investigation became a prime suspect and advanced DNA testing even led to an arrest. Yet Sarah’s murder still awaits a conclusion to this day after almost 40 years.
- If you have any information relating to the unsolved homicide of Sarah Hunter, please contact Captain Scott Dunlap of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit. His email is scott.dunlap@vermont.gov. You can also submit an anonymous tip at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit, or text VTIPS to 274637.
View source material and photos for this episode at: darkdowneast.com/sarahhunter
Dark Downeast is an audiochuck and Kylie Media production hosted by Kylie Low.
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