According to police reports, human remains discovered in Connecticut in 2006 have been identified as those of Brian Cranfield, who went missing in Vermont in 2001. Cranfield, 37, of Weathersfield, and Terry Brinegar, 44, of Mount Holly, were fishing on April 9, 2001, at Sumner Falls in Hartland when their boat capsized. While Brinegar’s body was recovered shortly after, Cranfield’s remains were never found until now.
In October 2006, a human skull was located along the Connecticut River in Haddam. In the summer of 2025, DNA testing conducted by the Connecticut Chief State Medical Examiner’s Office led to a comparison with a DNA sample from Cranfield’s brother. Othram, a Texas-based company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, confirmed a match this past weekend, linking the skull to Cranfield.
Police say this case is not under suspicion, and the Vermont State Police have closed their investigation. The identification of Cranfield’s remains ends a long-standing missing persons case in Vermont. Further legal steps are not anticipated, as the findings indicate the case is resolved.
Source: Vermont State Police press release, view original report. This Vermont hartland human story highlights important developments.
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The Vermont hartland human situation continues to develop. The Vermont hartland human situation continues to develop.
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Source: Vermont State Police
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