NH BEAR BROOK JANE DOE: WF, 2-4, found in gallon drum in Allenstown, NH - 9 May 2000 *REA RASMUSSEN*

802UFNH - Unidentified Female

Reconstructions of the victim by NCMEC; images that possibly depict this victim; Terrence Peder Rassmussen (the victim's father) throughout his years in prison; Rassmussen at a younger age.

Date of Discovery: May 9, 2000
Location of Discovery: Allenstown, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Estimated Date of Death: Prior to 1981
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide by beating

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 2-4 years old
Race: White with possible Native American ancestry.
Sex: Female
Height: 3'3" to 3'9"
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Light brown, slightly wavy, and approximately 5 inches long.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Possibly anemic.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. She had an overbite that might have been noticeable to others.
Fingerprints: Not Available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
On May 9, 2000, the child's skeletal remains, along with the remains of another female child, 801UFNH, was found in a 55-gallon drum off a wooded trail off Everwood Drive adjacent to Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire.

Fifteen years earlier, on November 10, 1985, a hunter discovered the skeletal remains of an adult female, 799UFNH, and a female child, 800UFNH, in an overturned 55-gallon metal drum approximately 100 yards from the 2000 discovery.

Advanced forensic testing revealed that she was likely born and spent the majority of her childhood in Arizona, California, Texas or Oregon. She was likely born between 1975 and 1977.

It was announced in late 2016 that the middle child, who is unrelated to the three others, was identified as the daughter of a convicted killer, Terry Peder Rasmussen, known as Robert or Bob Evans and several other aliases. He died in 2010 and is believed to be responsible for the murders of these four victims, along with his former girlfriend, Denise Beaudin, who disappeared in late 1981 after leaving the state with him. Rasmussen had taken Beaudin's daughter to San Bernardino County, California and later abandoned her there. Although alive, she was not identified until 2016. Rasmussen remained unidentified himself until 2017.

In June 2019, the other three victims were identified as Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch, Marie Elizabeth Vaughn and Sarah Marie McWaters, aged 24, 7 and 11 months when they were last seen in Los Angeles County, California during November 1978. Honeychurch had been dating Rassmussen at the time she disappeared and the pair moved to New Hampshire with her two daughters, fathered by different men.

Investigators are also trying to identify children in photographs taken at Marie Vaugh's birthday party, sometime in December of 1977 or 1978. Vaughn has been identified as the child in the white dress; the other children have yet to be identified. It is also unknown where the children were at the time they were photographed.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: New Hampshire State Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Kim Fallon
Agency Phone Number: 603-271-1235
Agency E-Mail: Kim.Fallon(at)hotmail.com
Agency Case Number: 85-1050

Agency Name: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Agency Contact Person: Carol Schweitzer
Agency Phone Number: 1-800-843-5678 OR 1-800-THE-LOST
Agency E-Mail: NCMECTips(at)ncmec.org
Agency Case Number: 1100662

Agency Name: FBI ViCap
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 800-634-4097
Agency E-Mail: vicap(at)leo.gov
Agency Case Number: Unknown

Agency Name: New Hampshire State Police
Agency Contact Person: John Sonia
Agency Phone Number: 603-223-3856
Agency E-Mail: coldcaseunit(at)dos.nh.gov
Agency Case Number: 85-148

Agency Name: Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 603-271-1235
Agency E-Mail: MPDcoldcase(at)manchesterNH.gov
Agency Case Number: Unknown

NCIC Case Number: U600019598
NamUs Case Number: 2175
NCMEC Case Number: 1100662

Information Source(s)
Namus
NCMEC
Help ID Me
Wikipedia
Forensic Magazine
FBI
Boston Globe

802UFNH

Bear Brook Jane Doe

Bear Brook Jane Doe (also known posthumously as "Anita Moon" or "Angel") was a girl found dead in a 55 gallon drum barrel in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire in 2000. The other three victims were identified in June 2019. This child's father, Terry Rasmussen, is believed to have...

unidentified.wikia.org

This unidentified child was found along with other children and a woman in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire back in 2000.

The others were identified as being victims of Terry Peder Rassmussen. This girl still needs her name back! Fifteen years earlier, on November 10, 1985, a hunter discovered the skeletal remains of an adult female, 799UFNH, and a female child...

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[ima.grandma]

Identification of Final Unidentified Victim in the Allenstown, NH Homicide Case (Bear Brook Murders)

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.

web.archive.org

 

[ima.grandma]

i'm in tears..... just to hear her name just what a relief she has her name..... now we hope to find mama Pepper and what her fate is and what Denise Beaudin's fate is.

 

[ima.grandma]

The Little Girl in the Barrel: A Bear Brook Mystery Solved​

Twenty-five years after the body of an unidentified little girl was discovered in a 55-gallon drum barrel near Bear Brook State Park, the New Hampshire Department of Justice announced today that Jane Allenstown Doe 2000 has finally been identified as Rea Rassmussen.
“We never forgot Rea,” said New Hampshire State Police Detective Sergeant Christopher N. Elphick. “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.”

The Allenstown Four:​

The journey to Rea’s identity began nearly four decades ago, when hunters discovered the unidentified remains of a woman and a young girl near Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire. Their bodies had been hidden inside a barrel, and their deaths were ruled as homicides. With little evidence to follow and no clues to their identities, the case eventually went cold.

Fifteen years later, a New Hampshire state trooper revisiting the scene made a chilling discovery: another barrel, just a short distance away. Inside were the remains of two more young girls. Investigators believed all four victims were connected and had been in the woods the entire time, just waiting to be found.

DNA testing confirmed that the woman was biologically related to two of the young girls, but their connection to the third child, who became known as “the middle child,” remained unknown.

It wasn’t until years later that investigators uncovered the missing link: a man named Terry Rasmussen.

The Chameleon Killer:​

Known for using multiple aliases, Terry Rasmussen moved frequently across the country and wherever he went, people seemed to vanish. Investigators later linked him to a series of murders, missing persons and unidentified victims stretching from New Hampshire to California. Because of his ability to reinvent himself and avoid detection, he became known as the “Chameleon Killer.”

Rasmussen was eventually convicted of murdering his girlfriend in California, but by then suspicions surrounded him in several other cases, some still unsolved to this day. However, while serving his sentence for murder, Rasmussen died in prison in 2010.

Seven years after his death, he also became the key suspect in the Bear Brook murders, when DNA connected him to the crime scene—revealing that one of the children, the third child, was his biological daughter.

A Piece of the Puzzle Solved:​

In 2008, state police turned to NCMEC for help identifying the Bear Brook victims. In addition to providing forensic resources such as DNA testing and advanced analytical support, NCMEC elevated the cases nationally, creating numerous facial reconstructions, missing posters and driving widespread media outreach. This work reflects a larger effort—NCMEC is actively working to recover the identities of more than 630 unidentified deceased children nationwide.

Over the years, multiple agencies got involved in the case, piecing together Rasmussen’s many identities and uncovering chilling details about his life. In 2018, a tip helped point to the identities of three of the four victims, and in 2019, advanced testing and genetic genealogy confirmed them as Marlyse Honeychurch and her two young daughters, Mari
, Marie and Sarah.

Police say that Honeychurch was last seen in California around November 1978 when she introduced her family to her new boyfriend, Terry Rasmussen. After that, the family never saw Marlyse or the girls again. According to investigators, Rasmussen is the primary suspect in their murders.

Despite the breakthroughs in the case, one question still lingered: the identity of the final victim, Jane Allenstown Doe 2000.

A mystery that remained unsolved—until today.

Identifying “The Middle Child”:​

After the discovery of the other three victims, NCMEC and investigators pursued leads on the third child’s identity. Advanced DNA testing by Astrea Forensics pointed to genetic genealogy as the best path forward. Firebird Forensics worked on the case for years until 2024, when New Hampshire State Police partnered with DNA Doe Project, who uncovered a crucial lead—a possible mother to the child…a woman named Pepper Reed.

Pepper Reed was last seen by her family in Texas during Christmas of 1975. At the time, she was pregnant. According to the family, the child’s father was Terry Rasmussen. However, after Christmas, the family said that Pepper moved to California. They never met the child or saw Pepper again.

Quickly after identifying Pepper as the possible mother, DNA Doe Project made another discovery, a birth record from Orange County, California, for a baby girl born in 1976 named Rea Rasmussen. The birth certificate listed Rea’s parents as Terry Rasmussen and Pepper Reed—confirmation that this was the lead that investigators had been searching for all along.

Pepper had one surviving sibling, a brother, who was believed to be the uncle of Jane Allenstown Doe 2000. In September 2025, DNA testing with Bode Technology funded by NCMEC’s Child Justice Project grant confirmed the identity investigators had been searching for: Jane Allenstown Doe 2000 was Rea Rasmussen.

At the time of her death, Rea was between 2 and 4 years old. Unfortunately, there are no known photographs of Rea, so investigators are continuing to use NCMEC’s facial reconstruction to provide the most accurate visual of what Rea may have looked like.

“For 25 years, Rea’s story has been defined by tragedy, rather than her name,” said Carol Schweitzer, program manager of NCMEC’s Forensic Services Division. “This moment reflects years of persistence, innovation and collaboration across agencies who never gave up hope. Today, we can finally speak Rea’s name and provide long-awaited answers to her family and the community who has loved her.”

Where is Pepper? Investigators Need Your Help:​

With Rea’s name restored, investigators now have another mystery to solve: what happened to Rea’s mother, Pepper Reed?

Investigators believe that Pepper may have also been a victim of Terry Rasmussen. Police are looking for any information on the whereabouts and fate of Pepper Reed, who was last seen in the late 1970s.

Investigators are also looking for any information on Terry Rasmussen’s movements between 1974 and 1985, particularly in New Hampshire, California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Virginia.

If you have any information on Terry, Pepper or Rea, please contact the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at 800-525-5555 or email them at coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.

For more information on unidentified work at NCMEC, visit our website at: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/helpidme.

The Little Girl in the Barrel: A Bear Brook Mystery Solved

Twenty-five years after the body of an unidentified little girl was discovered in a 55-gallon drum...

www.missingkids.org

 

[Takeitfromme]

this is so super emotional for me. Just wow..... years ago i put as much effort as i could in this case for a very long time and did see some fruition so to see it taken further and then this THIS the most frustrating thing!!! who is this little girl???!!!! why can't we ID her??? where is mom?? something terrible has clearly happened to mom..... now we see this day..... another chapter closed and yet another door opens.... it's no longer who is she and who is mom and where is Denise Beaudoin it's now we know who Rea is, we know who Pepper is so not only are we looking for Denise and what happened to her but Pepper also!!!!

other than the Celina Cass case here in NH this press conference is just as emotional as was the announcement of Celina Cass when Attorney General Jane Young nearly burst out in tears when she said this is not the way we wanted to bring her home.......

i'm rambling but i never do so please forgive me!!

 

[ima.grandma]

 

[ima.grandma]

For @SoSueMe

NCMEC (@ncmec) • Instagram photos and videos

198K Followers, 375 Following, 6,292 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from NCMEC (@ncmec)

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[ima.grandma]

The serial killer, who also went by the alias Bob Evans, had died in prison in 2010 while being locked up for murdering his girlfriend, Eunsoon Jun, 45, in 2002.

Jun and Rasmussen were married for about a year before he killed her and buried her in the basement of their Richmond, California home.

Two years later, three of the barrel-found victims were identified as Honeychurch and her daughters, who were all last seen in California in 1978.

Honeychurch was originally from Connecticut and was dating Rasmussen when she and her kids vanished after a family Thanksgiving dinner.

Relatives had been unsuccessfully searching for them for years until a Connecticut librarian, Rebecca Heath, who had been independently delving into the gut-wrenching case, realized Honeychurch had been dating Rasmussen.

Marlyse Honeychurch (pictured) was dating the serial killer when she went missing

Rasmussen (pictured), 67, was linked to the gruesome deaths of three little girls and a woman who were dumped in barrels at Bear Brook State Park in Allentown at some point during the 1970s or early 1980s

Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch and her daughters, Marie Elizabeth Vaughn and Sarah Lynn McWaters were named as three of the 4 bodies found dumped in an Allentown, PA park

Bear Brook murder case solved as last victim is killer's daughter

A decades-old New Hampshire murder case has finally been solved as the last of four victims has been identified as the killer's daughter.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[ima.grandma]

The fourth victim, who was Rasmussen's biological daughter, remained unidentified until now. But New Hampshire State Police Det. Sgt. Christopher N. Elphick said investigators "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," he said.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Benjamin J. Agati, who is the chief of the New Hampshire Department of Justice Homicide Unit, said he first worked on the case many years ago and hoped even then to give the child a 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," he said in the press release.

How was Rea identified?​

Back in early 2024, the New Hampshire State Police's Cold Case Unit partnered with the DNA Doe Project to reinvestigate the unidentified child by using advanced genetic genealogy.

Extensive DNA analysis and genealogical research were conducted, thus identifying her as Rea Rasmussen, the daughter of Terry Rasmussen and Pepper Reed.

That identification was officially confirmed on Sept. 5 through documentary records and DNA testing, according to the press release.

Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, who heads the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, said the Bear Brook murders case was one of the first 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," he said.

The search for Pepper Reed continues​

Despite all four Bear Brook victims now being identified, the search for Pepper Reed continues. Investigators believe she may have also been a victim of Rasmsussen.

The authorities have asked the public for any and all information related to the whereabouts and fate of Pepper Reed and the movements of Terry Rasmussen between 1974 and 1985, especially in the states of New Hampshire, California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Virginia.

Anyone who knows something is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at 800-525-5555 or 603-271-2663 or by emailing coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.

Those with information are also encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or by emailing ncmectips@ncmec.org.

Final victim in 40-year-old murder case identified as her mother remains missing

The final victim in a 40-year-old murder case has finally been identified by using advanced DNA testing and genealogy. Her mother remains missing, however, around 50 years after she disappeared

www.themirror.com

 

[ima.grandma]

Michelle Chagaris (left) and Diane Kloepfer clutched hands together during Saturday’s funeral in Allenstown, N.H.

ALLENSTOWN, N.H. — As a child, Diane Kloepfer often dreamed that her father would come back and rescue her from her mother.

She recounted a troubled childhood with an abusive mother, who kept a padlock on the refrigerator while her four children went hungry and often disappeared for days at a time, leaving them to fend for themselves.

For years, as adults, Kloepfer and her siblings searched genealogy websites and the Internet unsuccessfully trying to find their father

Daughter of killer travels to New Hampshire to attend funeral for slain half-sister - The Boston Globe

Diane Kloepfer, of Chicago, wants to know the name of her half-sister, whose body was found in a barrel in Allenstown, N.H., in 2000.

www.bostonglobe.com

 

[Guess Who]

She could literally be anywhere from one side of the country to the other side.

 

[Takeitfromme]

She could literally be anywhere from one side of the country to the other side.

Unfortunately yup

 

[ima.grandma]

Jennifer Randolph, of the DNA Doe Project, explained her team's efforts Monday during a news conference about the developments.

Randolph said that the DNA profile on its own was inconclusive and that efforts had to stretch back in time, according to WMTW sister station WCVB.

"They ultimately assembled a tree containing about 25,000 individuals," Randolph said. "Eventually, they were able to identify a couple born in the 1780s as likely ancestors of Bear Brook Jane Doe."

The family lineage was traced forward, and Randolph said the team found a 2005 obituary for a relative who was survived by a daughter named Pepper Reed, who disappeared from the records during the 1970s.

"The team then found additional connections between Pepper's ancestors and the unidentified girl's DNA relative matches, which confirmed that Pepper Reed had to be the mother of the little Jane Doe," Randolph said.

How modern DNA testing, records from 1780s led to identification of Bear Brook murder victim

Investigators combed through centuries of records covering thousands of people to identify the fourth and final victim of a notorious New Hampshire homicide case.

www.wmtw.com

 

[ima.grandma]

 

[Takeitfromme]

Denise and Pepper are not the only girls he made vanish.... there's no way