DUI Checkpoints & Crime on the Road, Sobriety Checkpoints

 VERMONT STATE POLICE

On 06/29/08, Vermont State Police in Royalton received a report of a male subject who was found unresponsive in a pickup truck on a remote 4 wheel drive trail located off the end of the Chateauguay Road in the town of Bridgewater, Vermont. 

Uniform Troopers responded to the scene and discovered a NH registered pickup truck with a male subject deceased within.  The identity of the subject was not immediately known.  The subject was found to have apparent extensive head injuries.  It was also discovered that there had been a failed attempt to burn the truck. 

A team of State Police Crime Scene processing Detectives analyzed the scene and the body was sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington for an autopsy.  Investigation led Detectives to the town of Caanan, NH where they discovered a tentative identity of the victim as John Thiels 38, of Caanan, NH.  This identity was subsequently confirmed during the autopsy on 06/30/08.  Preliminary autopsy has revealed that the victim suffered multiple blunt trauma injuries to the head region. 

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that Thiels was planning a camping trip on the night of 06/28/08 into 06/29/08 with a subject named Casey Hadcock, 19 of Sharon VT.  It was also learned that another subject named Scott Whitney 25, of Woodstock VT had given Hadcock a ride to a location in White River Junction to meet Thiels on the night in question. 

Investigators learned that Hadcock had been having a romantic relationship with a woman who had been living with Thiels until the previous week. 

Investigation revealed that Hadcock murdered the victim at the remote campsite and summoned Whitney afterwards to assist him in removing items from the victim’s truck and in placing the victim in the truck.  Hadcock attempted to burn the truck by placing a rag into the gas filler tube of the victim’s truck and lighting it.  The truck suffered fire damage to the driver’s side but it failed to consume the remainder of the truck. 

On the night of 07/01/08, Hadcock was arrested in White River Junction by members of the State Police Uniform Division, Detectives from the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Detectives from the State Police Special Investigations Unit. 

Hadcock will be arraigned on 07/02/08 in Windsor County Court on the charge of Murder.  Whitney will be arraigned on the charge of Accessory After The Fact.

Investigation is continuing. 

Media inquiries should be directed to Detective Lt JP Sinclair
Detective Lieutenant JP Sinclair
Vermont State Police
Bureau of Criminal Investigations
Troop B – BCI Commander
 
 
 
 
DO NOT REPLY to this message. If you have any further inquiries please contact the sender directly at the indicated office number provided. Vermont Department of Public Safety