The Bear Brook Murders: Mystery and Tragedy
The Bear Brook murders, also known as the Allenstown Four, remain one of the most haunting cold cases in American history. The case involved the discovery of four female victims hidden in two metal barrels in Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown, New Hampshire. The brutal murders, spanning over four decades of mystery and investigation, not only revealed the true identity of a prolific killer but also pioneered the use of forensic genealogy in solving crimes.
Discovery of the Barrels
On November 10, 1985, a hunter stumbled across a 55-gallon metal drum near the site of a burned-down store in Bear Brook State Park. Inside, authorities found the remains of an adult woman and a young girl wrapped in plastic. Autopsies later revealed that both had died of blunt force trauma. The discovery shocked the small community of Allenstown, but without identification or leads, the case quickly grew cold.
Fifteen years later, on May 9, 2000, investigators uncovered a second barrel just a few hundred feet from the first. Inside were the remains of two more young girls. Like the first pair, these victims had also suffered blunt force trauma. It was immediately clear that all four murders were connected, most likely occurring between 1977 and 1981. The question of who they were—and who had killed them—remained unanswered.
Early Investigation and Forensic Work
The victims were initially buried in an Allenstown cemetery with a simple marker reading: “Here lies the mortal remains known only to God.” Authorities released facial reconstructions of the victims, hoping someone would recognize them. Despite hundreds of leads, their identities remained elusive.
Over the years, forensic science advanced. DNA testing established that three of the victims—a woman and two of the girls—were maternally related, suggesting they were a mother and her children. The fourth child, however, was unrelated to the others but shared DNA with a man later identified as serial killer Terry Peder Rasmussen.
Terry Rasmussen: The Chameleon Killer
The investigation took a critical turn in 2017 when police identified Rasmussen as the prime suspect. Born in 1943, Rasmussen lived under numerous aliases, including “Robert Evans” and “Curtis Kimball,” earning him the nickname “The Chameleon Killer.” He was a manipulative drifter who left a trail of victims across the United States.
Rasmussen had been convicted in 2002 for the murder of his girlfriend, Eunsoon Jun, in California. He died in prison in 2010. Only after his death did investigators piece together the extent of his crimes. DNA testing confirmed he was the father of the unidentified Bear Brook child, and his connection to the barrels became undeniable.
Breakthrough Through Genetic Genealogy
The use of genetic genealogy—a method that matches crime scene DNA with genealogical databases—was key to unraveling the Bear Brook case. In 2016, investigators teamed up with genetic genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter to trace Rasmussen’s connections. This groundbreaking approach helped identify Rasmussen’s alias and later confirmed the identities of three of the victims.
In June 2019, authorities announced that the adult woman was Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch, and the two related children were her daughters, Marie Elizabeth Vaughn and Sarah Lynn McWaters. Honeychurch was last seen in California in 1978 after an argument with her family during Thanksgiving. She left with Rasmussen, never to be seen again.
The fourth victim—the toddler fathered by Rasmussen—remains unidentified to this day, though advanced DNA research has traced her maternal lineage to Mississippi.
The Victims
- Marlyse Honeychurch (23–33 years old): The mother of two of the children, she had curly brown hair and significant dental work. She vanished from La Puente, California, in 1978.
- Marie Vaughn (5–11 years old): Honeychurch’s eldest daughter, remembered as having light brown wavy hair and distinctive dental features.
- Sarah McWaters (1–3 years old): Honeychurch’s younger daughter, with blond or light brown hair and a noticeable tooth gap.
- Unidentified child (2–4 years old): Rasmussen’s biological daughter. She had brown hair, an overbite, and mixed ancestry. Despite advances in genealogy, her name and mother remain unknown.
Rasmussen’s Trail of Crimes
Rasmussen’s involvement in the Bear Brook murders was part of a broader pattern of violence and deception. He had been linked to the disappearance of Denise Beaudin in 1981, whose young daughter he later abandoned in California under the alias “Robert Evans.” That girl, known for years as “Lisa,” was eventually reunited with her biological family through DNA. Beaudin herself is presumed dead, likely another victim of Rasmussen.
His criminal record shows a chilling pattern: adopting new identities, moving frequently, entering relationships with women, and leaving death in his wake.
Legacy of the Case
The Bear Brook murders changed the field of criminal investigation. It was the first case where genetic genealogy played a central role in identifying a killer. This technique has since been used in other major cases, most famously the capture of the Golden State Killer.
For the families of the victims, the case brought long-awaited answers, though it also left painful questions. Honeychurch and Vaughn were reburied with proper headstones in Allenstown in 2019, while Sarah was laid to rest in Connecticut near her paternal family. The unidentified child—Rasmussen’s daughter—remains a Jane Doe, a lingering reminder of the case’s incomplete resolution.
Conclusion
The Bear Brook murders highlight both the darkest aspects of human behavior and the persistence of investigators determined to uncover the truth. Terry Rasmussen lived as a master manipulator, hiding behind aliases while committing horrific crimes. Yet advances in forensic science and the dedication of law enforcement eventually exposed him.
Though one child’s identity remains unknown, the Bear Brook case stands as a testament to how science, persistence, and community involvement can bring justice, even decades later.
