CT CT - Robert Cavanagh, 51, Mansfield, 21 Dec 2004

[TheArtfulDetective]

Robert P. Cavanagh



Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: December 21, 2004
Location Last Seen: Mansfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut

Description:

• Date of Birth: January 3, 1953
• Age: 51 years old
• Race: White/Caucasian
• Gender: Male
• Height: 5' 10" / 70 inches
• Weight: 185 lbs
• Hair Color: Graying brown hair/balding
• Eye Color: Blue
• Nickname/Alias: Unknown
• Distinguishing Marks/Features: Scar on knee. Scar on shoulder.
• Clothing & Personal Items: Unknown
• Identifiers: Not available
• Other: Has a history of depression.

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Cavanaugh was last seen in Mansfield, Connecticut on December 21, 2004. He left a note inside his home on Foster Drive and drove away in his black 1996 Mazda B2300 pickup truck (CT license plate# 681CZT). He has never been heard from again and his car was never located. Cavanaugh was reported missing by family on December 24. Few details are available regarding his disappearance and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Investigators:

• Connecticut State Police: 860-896-3230;
  Reference Case#: DPS04064756

• State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety: 860-685-8230; [email protected]

NamUs #MP3396

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Robert P. Cavanagh – The Charley Project
Reward Offered for Missing Mansfield Man

 

[JSolt1210]

Robert P. Cavanagh

Location Last Seen: Mansfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut

Description:

• Other: Has a history of depression.

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Cavanaugh was last seen in Mansfield, Connecticut on December 21, 2004. He left a note inside his home on Foster Drive and drove away in his black 1996 Mazda B2300 pickup truck (CT license plate# 681CZT). He has never been heard from again and his car was never located. Cavanaugh was reported missing by family on December 24. Few details are available regarding his disappearance and his whereabouts remain unknown.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Robert P. Cavanagh – The Charley Project
Reward Offered for Missing Mansfield Man

snipped by me

The Charley Project states he "has a history of depression," NamUs adds that he "was reported to be despondent," and according to the third link, "family members reported that he might be in need of medical attention."

With all this in mind, I really wish we knew more about the note. It sounds like it could've been more serious than a quick "Went to the store; be back in 20 minutes."

Foster Drive, where he was last seen according to the third link, is near two rivers, a reservoir, and a lake. Could he have purposely driven his car into these, and maybe that's why he hasn't been found?

 

[Atombudd]

here is the court documents to have Robert declared deceased by his wife. It has the details of his disappearance.

Cavanagh v. Lentz, 2005 Ct. Sup. 13933 | Casetext Search + Citator

Read Cavanagh v. Lentz, 2005 Ct. Sup. 13933, see flags on bad law, and search Casetext’s comprehensive legal database

casetext.com

 

[Pennysmom2]

Searching for Robert's truck

Part 2

Part 3

I'll save you the time of watching these; they did not find Robert or his truck.

 

[renaebri]

Searching for Robert's truck

Part 2

Part 3

I'll save you the time of watching these; they did not find Robert or his truck.

To sum up the areas they searched:
Sonar searched the Coventry/Wangumbaug Lake boat ramp, the south side of Eagleville Pond, several portions of the Mansfield Hollow Lake, and portions of the Connecticut River. Three unrelated vehicles were located there.
Lower Bolton Lake, Willimantic Reservoir, Bigelow Pond, and the Willimantic River near the Heritage River Park as well as other sections were also searched.
Mono Lake and the pond at Whittmore Park they did not search with sonar, they thought they were too shallow.

Chaos Divers also searched for him on the Connecticut River and also found three vehicles, not sure if they were the same ones.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

The Willimantic River and the Shetucket River down to around Franklin, and Lovers Lane Road, the Gagers Pond, Decew Pond and Halls Pond were searched by this guy.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Caring1]

Possibly Mr. Cavanagh or even Mr. Boisse. They are both missing from Mansfield.

October 6, 2025

MANSFIELD — Connecticut State Police are investigating after "partial human remains" were found in the water at Mansfield Hollow State Park over the weekend, according to state officials.

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/mansfield-hollow-state-park-police-investigation-21085882.php

 

[sds71]

MANSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Human remains found in October in Mansfield have been identified as a man who was reported missing nearly 21 years ago.

News 8 investigative reporter Jeff Derderian confirmed with the Connecticut State Police that the medical examiner’s office identified the remains as those of 72-year-old Robert Cavanaugh of Mansfield.

https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/tolland/human-remains-found-at-mansfield-boat-launch-identified-as-man-reported-missing-nearly-21-years-ago/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1991244091011559932

• Human remains found in a Connecticut lake have been identified as belonging to Robert Cavanaugh, who was reported missing on Christmas Eve 2004.
• The father of four was 51 when he went missing, according to his daughter.
• Robert's daughter acknowledged her dad "struggled with mental illness toward the end” of his life.

 

[JSolt1210]

MANSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Human remains found in October in Mansfield have been identified as a man who was reported missing nearly 21 years ago.

News 8 investigative reporter Jeff Derderian confirmed with the Connecticut State Police that the medical examiner’s office identified the remains as those of 72-year-old Robert Cavanaugh of Mansfield.

https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/tolland/human-remains-found-at-mansfield-boat-launch-identified-as-man-reported-missing-nearly-21-years-ago/

According to the quoted article: "At the time he went missing, Cavanaugh was believed to have left a suicide note, according to state police."

The lake where he was found is less than a 10-minute drive from where he was last seen.

It's a shame searches weren't conducted there sooner, especially if police knew about the suicide note. The family wouldn't have had to wait 22 years for answers. Then again, without proof he went in this direction, I guess they can't exactly search everywhere.