Page 34 of Wilderness Search (Eagle Mountain: Unsolved Mysteries #2)
New Evidence Leads to Killer
Waterbury police announced today that they have charged Albert Wayne Terriot with the murder of Rachel Sherman two years ago.
Rachel was abducted from Deer Hollow Youth Camp and her body was later found in a nearby creek.
She had been strangled. Though police had identified several persons of interest in their initial investigation of the murder, they were never able to find proof of the real killer.
A review of the case by the department’s newly formed Cold Case Squad this year led to the discovery of previously untested items found at the crime scene.
This led to the construction of a DNA profile that was eventually linked to Terriot.
The now-fifty-eight-year-old Terriot was never on law enforcement’s radar as a suspect before this new DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
Police Detective Darrel Green said law enforcement now believe Terriot was the mysterious vagrant living in the woods near the camp that several campers told stories about at the time.
Law enforcement was unable to find any proof of the vagrant’s existence at that time and dismissed the story as something children invented to scare each other.
Terriot was convicted of an attack on another minor child in Chester, Vermont, last year and is currently serving a fifteen-year sentence for that crime. Washington County District Attorney Randall Freed says he expects Terriot to be tried for Rachel’s murder some time next year.
“ Do you feel like a big weight is off your shoulders?” Willa asked Gary when she met him for lunch the day after Aaron sent her a link to the story about Albert Terriot’s arrest.
“Yeah,” Gary said. He traced a line of condensation down his water glass with one thumb. “I told myself I was past all that, but knowing they’ll never come back and try to pin the crime on me is a big relief.”
“For me, too,” she admitted. “I always worried about you.”
“I’m good. What about you? Things going okay with Aaron?”
“They are. We’re good together.” She glanced down, unable to stop admiring the sapphire solitaire he had recently given her, two months to the day after she had moved in with him.
“So when’s the wedding?” Gary asked.
“We’re waiting to schedule it until after Bethany’s wedding. We don’t want to take any attention away from her. What about you? You’re not too lonely in the house without me there?”
“I like my privacy. Always have. And it’s easier to sleep during the day without someone else there.”
She made a face. “How long will you be on night shift?”
“Don’t know. Until they hire someone with less experience than me. But I like it. Emergency dispatch isn’t as busy at night around here, so it’s a good way to ease into the job.”
“But you still like the work?” She tried to keep the concern out of her voice. Gary didn’t like it when he suspected her of babying him.
“Yeah, I do. It’s not something I ever thought I’d be doing, but it’s really interesting. And I’m helping people, which is good, too.” He pointed a french fry at her. “I’m pretty sure I only got the position because Aaron recommended me. But he won’t admit it.”
“He still feels guilty about accusing you of murder.”
“That’s in the past now. It all worked out. And I’m happy you’re happy.”
“I am.” Happier than she would have thought possible. “He’s a good man,” she said.
“He is. And he’s lucky to have you.”
“What about you?” she asked. “Are you seeing anyone? There’s a new nurse at the clinic…”
He shook his head. “Don’t go there,” he said. “I’ll find my own dates, thank you very much.”
“All right. All right.” She would never stop wanting to look after her little brother, but she was willing to relax, for now. Gary seemed to be doing well, and she wanted to focus on her own life, and the future. With Aaron, and, if things worked out, their children.
“You’ve gone all dreamy-eyed again,” Gary said. He laughed. “It’s good to see it.”
She only smiled and nodded. Life was good, and she wasn’t going to take that for granted for a single moment.
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