CT CT - Bernadine Paul, 37, Waterbury, 7 June 2000

[CastlesBurning]

Missing in Connecticut

Missing Person / NamUs #MP392

• Bernadine “Bernie” Paul of Waterbury – Last seen June 7, 2000 at 37 years old
  • Bernadine was last seen outside the Bradlees Department Store on Chase Avenue in Waterbury. She withdrew $30 from an ATM and has never been heard from again.

Missing Age 37 Years
Current Age 59 Years

First Name Bernadine
Middle Name
--
Last Name Paul
Nickname/Alias Berrie; Beradine Paul; Paul Bernadine; Paul Beradine
Sex Female
Race / Ethnicity Hispanic / Latino,White / Caucasian
Height 5'-3" - 5'-4" (63 - 64 inches)
Weight 115 - 120 lbs

Hair Color Brown
Head Hair Description Brown
Eye Description Brown

Distinctive Physical Features
Piercing
Pierced ears
Scar/mark
Mole on upper lip, small moles on neck
Tattoo
Tattoo of a "cross" on left hand between thumb and index finger

Clothing
Burgundy shirt, light blue jeans, white jacket, black purse.

Footwear
white athletic shoes

Jewelry
Two silver snake bangles, large silver bracelet, four rings, two gold bracelets, gold chain with a "cross" pendant.

 

[HopeRains]

Link to 2020 News Story on WTNH

Additional photos from news segment:

 

[YaYa_521]

Police: Human skull and bones found on Judd Street in Waterbury

Waterbury police confirmed human remains were discovered on Judd Street in Waterbury, but...

www.chron.com

MSN

SBM

• Authorities have not released information about the identity of the remains.

#

These remains were located about 1 mile from where Bernie was last seen.

Google Maps - Target (Old Bradlees location) to Hill Street

Link to 2020 News Story on WTNH

RSBM
She was last seen at the old Bradlee’s (now Target) parking lot on Chase Avenue in the middle of the afternoon. [snip] ...lived about a mile from the old Bradlee’s and the Webster Bank ATM.

 

[JSolt1210]

Police: Human skull and bones found on Judd Street in Waterbury

Waterbury police confirmed human remains were discovered on Judd Street in Waterbury, but...

www.chron.com

MSN

SBM

• Authorities have not released information about the identity of the remains.

#

These remains were located about 1 mile from where Bernie was last seen.

Google Maps - Target (Old Bradlees location) to Hill Street


RSBM
She was last seen at the old Bradlee’s (now Target) parking lot on Chase Avenue in the middle of the afternoon. [snip] ...lived about a mile from the old Bradlee’s and the Webster Bank ATM.

That's a very interesting find! I wish we knew more, like if they could determine the gender of the deceased and how long the remains had been there for. But I guess we have to wait on those.

I also found this article on Bernie's disappearance, which states (BBM):

Details of Disappearance: Bernadine told her friend to take her car, her friend took her car and dropped her off at Bradlee’s Department Store, vicinity of Chase Ave. in Waterbury, CT. (Bradlees is no longer there, it is occupied by a Target now). She withdrew $30.00 from a nearby bank. About 12-14 hours later, she called Bernadine’s mother and told her she had not heard from Bernadine, About one to two months later her friend left from Waterbury.

That last part is interesting to me because, according to the 2020 article quoted above, Bernie's son, Alvin, remembers being told his mother would “... walk home. I remember those specific words were said to us — to me. I will walk home, something my mother never did.”

If the friend knew Bernie was walking back home, why then call the family afterwards? Were they supposed to meet back up later? But according to Alvin, Bernie was last seen "in the middle of the afternoon." So 12-14 hours later means the friend called around 2-4 a.m. Were the plans really that late at night? Had the friend spent hours looking for Bernie only to then notify her mom upon not finding her? Had the friend called anyone else looking for Bernie, prior to calling the mom?

And then the added detail that the friend left Waterbury shortly thereafter makes me think there's more to that, especially with Alvin's suspicions that "my mother was murdered."

 

[YaYa_521]

That's a very interesting find! I wish we knew more, like if they could determine the gender of the deceased and how long the remains had been there for. But I guess we have to wait on those.

I also found this article on Bernie's disappearance, which states (BBM):

Details of Disappearance: Bernadine told her friend to take her car, her friend took her car and dropped her off at Bradlee’s Department Store, vicinity of Chase Ave. in Waterbury, CT. (Bradlees is no longer there, it is occupied by a Target now). She withdrew $30.00 from a nearby bank. About 12-14 hours later, she called Bernadine’s mother and told her she had not heard from Bernadine, About one to two months later her friend left from Waterbury.

That last part is interesting to me because, according to the 2020 article quoted above, Bernie's son, Alvin, remembers being told his mother would “... walk home. I remember those specific words were said to us — to me. I will walk home, something my mother never did.”

If the friend knew Bernie was walking back home, why then call the family afterwards? Were they supposed to meet back up later? But according to Alvin, Bernie was last seen "in the middle of the afternoon." So 12-14 hours later means the friend called around 2-4 a.m. Were the plans really that late at night? Had the friend spent hours looking for Bernie only to then notify her mom upon not finding her? Had the friend called anyone else looking for Bernie, prior to calling the mom?

And then the added detail that the friend left Waterbury shortly thereafter makes me think there's more to that, especially with Alvin's suspicions that "my mother was murdered."

Good questions! It does seem odd the friend would call Bernie's mom to say she hadn't heard from her. The only reason this would make sense is if Bernie was supposed to call the friend at some point during the evening. I could imagine something such as calling later to make arrangements for the friend to return the car. Otherwise, it is strange that she called so late in the night after dropping Bernie off.

The details read as though the friend arranged to borrow Bernie's car. Loaning out her car is likely the only reason Bernie told her son she'd walk home, which was out of the ordinary according to her son. I can't help but wonder whether that was a ruse for the "friend" to buy herself some time after doing whatever she might have done to Bernie (if Bernie was harmed by foul play).

I'd really like to know who the "she" is who withdrew money from the bank. Is it Bernie who got cash after being dropped off or the friend after dropping Bernie off at Bradlees? Perhaps it's my own lack of comprehension skills, but the wording in the article isn't clear to me. I'd also like to know the balance in the bank account when the $30 was withdrawn. If there were additional monies available, it seems the friend would have taken more than $30.

Bernie's friend leaving Waterbury seems like a red flag to me too. Of course, people change locations for all sorts of reasons (e.g., jobs, school, family matters, etc) so the friend's move may have nothing to do with Bernie's disappearance. I wonder what reason she gave people when she told them she was moving. I suspect the "friend" might be getting a visit from LE soon if the remains found recently end up being identified as Bernie. I hope they've kept tabs on her or are able to find her for questioning, if necessary.

MOO

ETA - After re-reading the OP it states Bernie is the person who made the $30 withdrawal from the ATM. I wonder how LE verified it was her. Were there cameras or eye witnesses at the bank who confirmed it was Bernie?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Bernadine Paul​

Missing From : Waterbury, Connecticut
Missing: June 7, 2000
Age at Disappearance: 38
Height: 5’4
Weight: 120
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Distinguishing Characteristics: Scars, Marks, Tattoos: Hispanic female. Paul has moles on her upper lip and on her neck. She has a tattoo of a cross between her left thumb and index finger. Paul’s ears are pierced. Her nickname is Bernie. Paul speaks fluent Spanish.

Bernadine Paul – CUE – Community United Effort

ncmissingpersons.org

‘Not going to rest until my family gets answers’: 20 years on Waterbury family renews efforts to find out what happened to missing mother

Twenty years after his mother’s disappearance, one Waterbury man is still searching for answers.

www.wtnh.com

 

[Pennysmom2]

last update 12/16/23

4577DFCT - Bernadine Paul