Police have arrested John Heath for murder in connection with the killing of his wife, Elizabeth Heath, 28 years ago. Elizabeth was reported missing in 1984. Her skeletal remains were found beneath the subflooring in a barn in April 2010.
Heath, 68, of Bridgewater was arrested by warrant last Monday. He was charged with murder and held in lieu of $1 million bail. He is to be arraigned later today in Superior Court in Danbury, CT.
The medical examiner used dental records to positively ID the skeleton as that of Elizabeth Heath. They announced that her death was a homicide shortly after her remains were found, but did not immediately release the cause of death at the request of prosecutors.
It’s not clear if Heath has a lawyer. He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 19 for a probable cause hearing. More here.
Thanks to Twitter pal @Hargitay1NY for alerting me to this!
Case: Elizabeth Heath went missing in 1984 while she was divorcing her husband. John Heath had reported his wife missing on April 6, 1984. Heath’s family had Elizabeth declared dead in 1991. In 2010, Elizabeth’s remains were found during a home renovation on the property at 89 Poverty Hollow Road. That is where the couple used to live. John Heath left the property in 2005 when the bank foreclosed on the home.
Elizabeth was identified by dental records. Examination found that Elizabeth had been beaten to death. She was killed by at least four blows to her head with a “narrow, heavy” club-like weapon. Then she was wrapped in bedclothes and plastic bags before she was shoved head-first into the 3-feet deep, 18-inch square dry well.
In 2013, a jury found John Heath guilty. On Dec 18, 2013, Heath was sentenced to 50 years. The state Department of Correction’s website now lists Heath’s maximum release date from prison as April 30, 2062.