A LITTLE girl has finally been named 25 years after she was found dead in a barrel at a New Hampshire state park.
The fourth and final victim of serial killer Terry Rasmussen has been identified as his own daughter, Rea Rasmussen, investigators said.
Facial reconstruction technology rendered an idea of what Rea Rasmussen might have looked like when she was killed[/caption]
The barrel holding Rea Rasmussen and toddler Sarah McWaters was found on private property near Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire, on May 9, 2000[/caption]
Terry Peder Rasmussen’s mugshot when he was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1973[/caption]
Rasmussen, called the Chameleon Killer, murdered a woman and three girls and stuffed their bodies in 55-gallon barrels left near Bear Brook State Park in Allentown in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
However, the gruesome case wasn’t connected to Rasmussen, 67, until after he died in prison in 2010.
In 2019, three of the victims were identified as Rasmussen’s ex-girlfriend, Marlyse Honeychurch, who was in her 20s, and her two daughters, 11-year-old Marie Vaughn and toddler Sarah McWaters.
Honeychurch and Vaughn’s decaying bodies were discovered in 1985, but investigators didn’t stumble upon the second barrel with Rea and McWaters inside until 2000.
All four of the victims died of blunt force trauma to their heads and were put in the park at the same time, investigators said.
Rea, previously known as the “middle child,” was determined to be Rasmussen’s biological daughter in 2016, but she was unidentified until now.
She was born in 1976 to Rasmussen’s ex-girlfriend, Pepper Reed, and was about 2 to 4 years old when she was murdered.
There are no known pictures of the girl, the New Hampshire Department of Justice announced on Sunday.
“This case has weighed on New Hampshire and the nation for decades,” Attorney General John Formella said in a press release.
“With Rea Rasmussen’s identification, all four victims now have their names back.”
Marie Elizabeth Vaughn, born in 1971, was found dead in a barrel alongside her mom[/caption]
Sarah McWaters, born in 1977, died of blunt force trauma to the head and was left in a barrel with Rea Rasmussen[/caption]
Marlyse Honeychurch was last seen alive in 1978 before her body was found alongside her two daughters in barrels at Bear Brooks State Park[/caption]
Formella added, “This development is the result of extraordinary perseverance by law enforcement, forensic experts, and our Cold Case Unit.”
Extensive DNA testing and documentary records confirmed Rea’s identity on September 5, officials said.
But the case leaves unanswered questions behind.
Rea’s mom hasn’t been seen since the late 1970s.
Timeline of the case
Below is a timeline of events leading up to the identification of Rea Rasmussen’s body:
November 10, 1985: An adult woman and a young girl are found in a barrel on private property near Bear Brook State Park in Allentown, New Hampshire.
May 9, 2000: A second barrel with the decayed bodies of two young girls is found near the first barrel’s location. Investigators determine both barrels were placed in the park after the victims were killed in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
November 2002: Terry Rasmussen is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Eunsoon Jim, and parole violation.
June 2003: Rasmussen is sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
December 2010: Rasmussen dies in California State Prison at age 67.
October 2016: DNA confirms that Rasmussen is the biological father of the unidentified 2-4 year old girl in the second barrel.
2019: Three of the victims in the barrels are identified as Ramussen’s girlfriend Marlyse Honeychurch and her daughters Marie Vaughn and Sarah McWaters.
Early 2024: Investigators use advanced genetic genealogy to investigate the identity of the unidentified girl.
September 5, 2025: The fourth Bear Brook murder victim is identified as Rea Rasmussen.
Reed was born in 1952 and is originally from Texas. Investigators believe Rasmussen might have killed her.
“Our commitment to uncovering the truth, no matter how long it takes, remains unwavering,” Formella said.
“We continue to seek answers about the disappearance of Pepper Reed.”
Marlyse Honeychurch was killed in the late 1970s or early 1980s[/caption]
The first barrel containing Marlyse Honeychurch and her daughter, Marie Vaughn, was found in November 1985[/caption]
Pepper Reed, Rea’s mom, hasn’t been seen since 1972[/caption]
CHAMELEON KILLER
Rasmussen is also believed to have killed another former girlfriend, Denise Beaudin, who went missing in 1981.
He was known as the Chameleon Killer because he took on various identities throughout his years of crime and fleeing police.
Some of his aliases included Bob Evans, Larry Vanner, Gerry Mockerman, and Curtis Mayo Kimball.
He was finally caught in 2002 after killing his girlfriend, chemist Eunsoon Jim, and was serving his prison sentence for her murder when she died.
Investigators believe he has more victims yet to be found.
Rasmussen’s booking photo when he was arrested for a DUI in May 1985[/caption]
Reed, who police believe might have been killed by Rasmussen[/caption]
