‘Cold Case’ Homicide—

Blow To The Head Killed Elizabeth Heath

By Andrew Gorosko

The chief state’s medical examiner has determined that Elizabeth Gough Heath’s homicide was caused by a “blunt traumatic head injury,” or a forceful blow to the head.

A spokeswoman for the chief state medical examiner’s office said Wednesday, September 8, that the results of an autopsy have confirmed the police’s analysis that Ms Heath was the victim of a homicide.

Town police, aided by state police, have been investigating the death of the woman, whose complete skeleton was found on April 14 hidden beneath the floor of a former ground-level efficiency apartment within a barn near her former residence at 89 Poverty Hollow Road.

Danbury State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky III said September 8, “It’s an active investigation, so I cannot comment.”

Mr Sedensky asked any members of the public who have information on the case to contact Detective Jason Frank at the Newtown Police Department.

Mr Sedensky is the top law enforcement official in the area served by Danbury Superior Court, which includes Newtown.

“We look forward to a report” from the medical examiner on Ms Heath’s autopsy, said Police Chief Michael Kehoe.

“This is an ongoing, active [police] investigation” into Ms Heath’s death, he said.

“We’re very happy that the medical examiner has come to a conclusion…and if anybody has any information concerning this homicide, please contact the Newtown police,” he said.

The police chief declined to comment on the progress of the police investigation.

 Ms Heath, 30, had lived at the scenic Poverty Hollow Road property until she was reported missing on April 6, 1984, by her husband John Heath, according to police.

The probe into Ms Heath’s death was triggered when while cleaning the vacant apartment, the property’s current owners last April 14 discovered what would later be identified as Ms Heath’s skeletal remains, which someone had surreptitiously placed within a dry well, which was hidden beneath the flooring in the apartment’s kitchen.

Town police and state police on April 29, executed a search/seizure warrant at Mr Heath’s current Bridgewater rental home. About ten town and state police staffers conducted evidence collection at the 5 Keeler Road home for ensuing forensic analysis. Police have declined to say what they were looking for at the property.

John and Elizabeth Heath had been involved in divorce proceedings when Mr Heath reported Ms Heath as missing to the Newtown police.

Police had considered the disappearance of Ms Heath a “cold case,” or a probe into which the investigatory leads had grown cold, until April 14, when the discovery of her skeletal remains provided fresh information for their investigation.

The Heaths were married in May 1978. They had one child, Meghann, who was born in September 1979.

Following Ms Heath’s disappearance, Mr Heath obtained a divorce on the grounds of desertion. In 1985, Mr Heath remarried, with his new wife, Raquel, later legally adopting his daughter.

In 2000, the probate court declared Elizabeth Heath as “presumed dead.”

John Heath was an owner of the Poverty Hollow Road property from 1973 to 2005. In 2005, that property went into foreclosure, with Mr Heath then moving to Bridgewater.

A reporter’s telephone call to the Heath residence in Bridgewater on September 9, which sought comment on the medical examiner’s findings, was answered by a person identifying herself as Mr Heath’s wife. She said there would be no comment on the matter. Mr Heath is now in his mid-60s.