VT - Troy Ford, 35, fatally shot by girlfriend, family, Highgate, early 2018 *Arrest*

[Gardener1850]

HIGHGATE: Police responded to Darlene Drive on Saturday for the report of a body that was found in a wooded area about 150 feet from the roadway.
According to Vermont State Police spokesperson Adam Silverman, Troopers were called to the area after a nearby resident was walking their dogs and found the body.
Few details were available to the public on Sunday afternoon while the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team was scouring the area, looking for evidence.
An area about one acre was cordoned off with yellow police tape with a smaller area about 100 square feet cordoned off with orange marker tape, presumably where the remains are.
Law enforcement indicated the remains had been dumped at the scene for an extended period of time, but would not narrow that timeframe down, only indicating that the body had likely spent some of the winter where it was found. The officers could be seen using a metal detector and unpacking a sifter. The location was an only recreation area where a small baseball field and basketball court had grown into an unkempt wooded area. State’s Attorney Jim Hughes spent about two hours on the scene on Sunday afternoon with law enforcement officers. No charges have been filed and no suspects have been identified in connection with the death.

http://countycourier.net/2018/05/human-remains-spark-investigation-in-sheldon/

 

[Gardener1850]

This is about 8 miles from Sheldon, VT, the town Brianna Maitland was living in when she disappeared: https://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?6287-VT-Brianna-Maitland-17-Montgomery-19-March-2004/page39https://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?6287-VT-Brianna-Maitland-17-Montgomery-19-March-2004/page39

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dar...ba03cada25!2m2!1d-72.9429123!2d44.8817124!3e0

 

[Ozoner]

The wording of the article doesn't make it sound like the post-mortem interval is great enough for the remains to belong to Brianna (i.e, the use of the term body, the reference to the remains having been there "part of the winter," etc.).

 

[The Farm]

Not saying if male or female?

Could this be Austin Colson? Missing from the Sharon area?

 

[Mountaingazer]

Not saying if male or female?

Could this be Austin Colson? Missing from the Sharon area?

It's about 1.5 to 2 hrs away depending on the traffic on I89. I think if its a dumped body, the person would have to have local knowledge, Darlene Dr is a dead end rd with a little cul de sac at the end.

ETA I wonder if the man accused in Austin's death has ties to the Highgate area?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Mountaingazer]

The wording of the article doesn't make it sound like the post-mortem interval is great enough for the remains to belong to Brianna (i.e, the use of the term body, the reference to the remains having been there "part of the winter," etc.).

I had hope at first, but I agree. That wording definitely sounds like it is from sometime this winter.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Ozoner]

Not saying if male or female?

Could this be Austin Colson? Missing from the Sharon area?

More likely Austin than Brianna given the timeframe.

 

[Lamima]

Sifter...would think the body has been there a long while.

 

[Gardener1850]

FWIW, the other articles about this do not use the word body and say "possible human remains"

HIGHGATE, Vt. - Two people walking their dogs in Highgate discovered what they believed to be human remains Saturday afternoon, police say.

The possible remains were found on Darlene Dr., in a wooded area close to the roadway, at around 2:45pm.

Vermont State Police processed the area on Sunday.

http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/possible-human-remains-found-in-highgate/1163422415

Vermont State Police are investigating possible human remains found in Highgate.

Police said two residents walking their dogs came across what they believed were human remains in a wooded area near Darlene Drive on Saturday.

http://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermo...ible-human-remains-found-in-highgate/20198070

The article in the OP had the most detail. I agree that the part about being there for part of the winter might be a clue as to the age. However, I always take the media's reporting of body vs remains with a huge grain of salt. I have noticed MSM often uses "body" even when the condition of the remains ends up being skeletal. Sometimes we don't know the condition until LE releases a statement or the case ends up in NAMUS. JMO.

 

[Gardener1850]

Does anyone have any insights on the State’s Attorney Jim Hughes spending 2 hours at the scene of the investigation? That detail caught my attention and made me think this was an important case. But I'm not sure how common it is for the SA to visit a scene like that.

 

[Ozoner]

Does anyone have any insights on the State’s Attorney Jim Hughes spending 2 hours at the scene of the investigation? That detail caught my attention and made me think this was an important case. But I'm not sure how common it is for the SA to visit a scene like that.

I've never seen that happen in Michigan, but in a small state like Vermont it may be routine.

The wording of the other sources does make it difficult to rule out Brianna. Still, the location doesn't seem that remote. What are the odds that Brianna could have remained there undiscovered for fourteen years? I suppose wind or rain could have exposed a shallow grave.

 

[MittenScarpetta]

I've never seen that happen in Michigan, but in a small state like Vermont it may be routine.

The wording of the other sources does make it difficult to rule out Brianna. Still, the location doesn't seem that remote. What are the odds that Brianna could have remained there undiscovered for fourteen years? I suppose wind or rain could have exposed a shallow grave.

In the Rhoden/Gilley murders (still unsolved) in Ohio, both the attorney general and special prosecutors spent time at the crime scenes.

 

[IlliniVT]

Update of “possible human remains” found in Highgate, VT...

http://www.wcax.com/content/news/Hi...way-for-girlfriend-another-man-481939341.html

 

[Gardener1850]

Highgate man found dead; manhunt underway for girlfriend, another man

Monday, Vermont State Police said they have preliminarily identified the dead man as Troy Ford, 35, of Highgate. Investigators say he lived with the family of his girlfriend, Erika Guttilla, 31. They say their investigation revealed that Guttilla shot and killed Ford several months ago at her family's home.

Police arrested Erika Guttilla's mother, Carmen Guttilla, 60, Sunday night. She's charged with aiding in the commission of a murder. She's due in court Monday.
A manhunt is now underway for Erika Guttilla and Corey Cassani, 28, of Highgate. Police say Cassani was also involved in the murder. They are believed to be in a red, 2013 Chevrolet Spark with Vermont license plates FHN 394. Erika Guttilla is white, 5-feet-6 inches tall, 120 lbs., with green eyes and blonde hair. Corey Cassani is a white man, 5-feet-9 inches tall, 165 lbs., with brown eyes and brown hair. Police say the couple should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information should call Vermont State Police in St. Albans at 802-524-5993.

http://www.wcax.com/content/news/Hi...way-for-girlfriend-another-man-481939341.html

:scared:

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]Pair on the run after human remains found in Highgate[/h]

A Highgate woman and her boyfriend are on the run from police, who believe she shot her ex-boyfriend, whose body was discovered by residents walking in the woods.

Police say Erika Guttilla, 31, and Corey Cassani, 28, are armed and dangerous.
Carmen Guttilla, 60, the mother of Erika, was arrested on Sunday evening for assisting in the murder and is scheduled to be arraigned in Burlington court Monday afternoon.

An affidavit in the case is expected to be released when the elder Guttilla is arraigned Monday afternoon.

The current whereabouts of Erika Guttilla and Cassani are unknown. They are believed to be driving in a 2013 red Chevrolet Spark with Vermont license plates bearing the number FHN394.

Police provided the following descriptions of the suspects: Erika Guttilla is a white female, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with green eyes and blonde hair. Corey Cassani is a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Authorities were seeking arrest warrants as of this morning. State police are working with the FBI and U.S. Marshals on the case.

https://vtdigger.org/2018/05/07/pair-run-human-remains-found-highgate/

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]UPDATE: 1 arrested, 2 wanted after human remains found in Highgate[/h]

HIGHGATE, Vt. - Discovery of human remains over the weekend lead to a Highgate woman's arrest.

The remains were found in a wooded area Saturday by two people walking their dogs on Darlene Drive.

An investigation by Vermont State Police identified the body as Troy Ford, 35, of 161 Charles Circle, Highgate.
Troopers say Ford lived there with Michael and Carmen Guttilla and he was in a relationship with their daughter, Erika Guttilla, 31.

They say Erika shot and killed Ford several months ago and her mother along with a third person, Corey Cassani, 28, also of Highgate, were involved.
Carmen Guttilla, 60, was arrested Sunday night without incident.

She is facing a charge of aiding in the commission of a felony. She is being held without bail and will be arraigned Monday afternoon.

http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/ne...er-human-remains-found-in-highgate/1164688750

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]Police: Mom helped daughter who killed boyfriend in Highgate[/h]

Darlene Drive is an offshoot of Charles Circle, where Ford and Erika Guttilla lived with Michael and Carmen Guttilla, Erika's parents.

Ford was never reported missing, said Adam Silverman, a spokesman for the Vermont State Police.

Police are looking for Erika Guttilla and Corey Cassani, 28 of Highgate, who they said also had involvement in this case. They should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Both Erika Guttilla and Cassani have "extensive histories with law enforcement," said Silverman, and are well-known to authorities.

Police think Erika Guttilla and Cassani are travelling in a 2013 red, four-door Chevrolet Spark with a Vermont license plate reading FHN394. Their whereabouts is unknown, and Vermont State Police have called in the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service to help with the search.

Erika Guttilla is a white female, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with green eyes and blonde hair. Corey Cassani is a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair, police said.

Anyone with information about the case or the whereabouts of Erika Guttilla and Corey Cassani should call Vermont State Police at the St. Albans barracks, 802-524-5993.

https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com...hter-who-killed-boyfriend-highgate/586405002/

 

[cybervampira]

The Latest: Mother of Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

HIGHGATE, Vt. (AP) — The Latest on search for suspects in man's shooting death (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

The mother of a suspect wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Vermont has pleaded not guilty to helping with the crime.

Sixty-two-year-old Carmen Guttilla, of Highgate, was being held without bail on Monday.

[...]

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...-mother-of-shooting-suspect-pleads-not-guilty

 

[The Farm]

I had a hard time finding this thread as where it was under the Unidentified I did not say that it was moved!

So it is not Austin but still the news says that she supposedly killed him months ago and he has laid there for sometime now.
I will never understand how someone could do that to another person. :cry::cry:

 

[TheCrankyChef]

Oh, jeez I know this woman (Carmen) - she owns a local business that I frequent and I was just in there the other day talking to her.