Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and Colonel Mark B. Hall of the New Hampshire State Police announce a major development on behalf of the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit in the investigation of the 1985/2000 Allenstown homicide case, widely referred to as the Bear Brook murders.

The final unidentified victim – previously known as the “middle child” – has been identified as Rea Rasmussen, born in 1976 in Orange County, California. Rea was the biological daughter of Terry Peder Rasmussen, the man responsible for the murders (who died in prison in 2010), and Pepper Reed, who was born in 1952, is originally from Texas, and has not been seen since the late 1970s.

This identification concludes a more than 40-year search to give names to all four victims found in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire.

“This case has weighed on New Hampshire and the nation for decades. With Rea Rasmussen’s identification, all four victims now have their names back. This development is the result of extraordinary perseverance by law enforcement, forensic experts, and our Cold Case Unit,” said Attorney General Formella. “Our commitment to uncovering the truth, no matter how long it takes, remains unwavering. We continue to seek answers about the disappearance of Pepper Reed.”

Case Background

In 1985, the remains of an adult woman and a young girl were discovered in a barrel in Bear Brook State Park. In 2000, a second barrel containing the remains of two more girls was found nearby. The victims were determined to have been killed in the late 1970s or early 1980s and placed in the park.

In 2017, investigators linked one of the children to Terry Rasmussen, a known serial offender who used aliases including “Bob Evans” and died in prison in 2010. He was later identified as the individual responsible for all four murders.

In 2019, three of the victims were identified as Marlyse Honeychurch and her daughters, Marie Vaughn and Sarah McWaters, last seen in California in 1978. The fourth victim, Rasmussen’s biological daughter, remained unidentified until now.

“We never forgot Rea. We never stopped looking. This case has passed through the hands of many investigators, all of whom felt the weight of speaking for those who no longer could. Naming her brings a sense of justice but also reminds us of the unanswered questions that remain,” said New Hampshire State Police Detective Sergeant Christopher N. Elphick.

“I first worked on this case many years ago, and even then, we hoped one day we would be able to give this child her name. It is a testament to science, persistence, and teamwork that we have finally done that. It means a great deal—to all of us who have been part of this journey,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General Benjamin J. Agati, Chief, New Hampshire Department of Justice Homicide Unit.

Identification of Rea Rasmussen

In early 2024, the New Hampshire State Police Cold Case Unit partnered with the DNA Doe Project to reinvestigate the unidentified child using advanced genetic genealogy. Through extensive DNA analysis and genealogical research, she was identified as Rea Rasmussen, daughter of Terry Rasmussen and Pepper Reed.

This identification was officially confirmed on September 5, through documentary records and DNA testing. It represents the final piece in identifying all the Bear Brook victims.

“The Bear Brook case was one of the first major cases to demonstrate the potential of genetic genealogy in identifying victims and solving crimes. We hope this final identification provides a measure of closure, even as the investigation into Rasmussen’s full scope of crimes continues,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, Chief of the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit.

Ongoing Investigation

Although all four Bear Brook victims have now been identified, the investigation into the disappearance of Pepper Reed—Rea’s mother—remains active. Authorities believe she may have also been a victim of Rasmussen.

Investigators continue to seek information regarding:

• The whereabouts and fate of Pepper Reed, last seen in the late 1970s
• Terry Rasmussen’s movements between 1974 and 1985, particularly in New Hampshire, California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, and Virginia

Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact:

• New Hampshire Cold Case Unit
  Phone: (800) 525-5555 / (603) 271-2663
  Email: coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
  Phone: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
  Email: ncmectips@ncmec.org