In 1985, a hunter discovered a barrel on private property beside Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire. Inside were the remains of a woman and a young girl. Fifteen years later—and only about 300 feet away—a second barrel was found containing two more children. For decades, the four victims were known only through forensic estimates, facial reconstructions, and the place where someone had tried to erase them. Today, they have names. In this episode, we tell the stories of Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch, her daughters Marie Elizabeth Vaughn and Sarah Lynn McWaters, and Rea Rasmussen. We follow an investigation that moved backward through time—from a living child whose identity had been stolen, through a maze of aliases, missing women, disconnected records, DNA, citizen researchers, and thousands upon thousands of branches on family trees. Authorities identify serial offender Terry Peder Rasmussen as their killer, but he died before the full Bear Brook connection was uncovered and was never tried for these four murders. Questions remain about exactly when and where they were killed, the fate of two other missing women, and whether Rasmussen left additional victims behind. This is not simply a story about bodies discovered in barrels. It is about four people who were denied their names—and the families, investigators, scientists, and ordinary people who refused to let that erasure be permanent. Also in this episode: our Dishonorable Mention of the Week and a Mini Creeper involving an alleged ancient Persian princess that may—or may not—be exactly what she appears to be. Today’s completely legitimate vocabulary word: CRYPTOTHANATONONYMIZATION KRIP-toh-THAN-uh-toh-NON-uh-muh-ZAY-shun The deliberate concealment, replacement, or destruction of a deceased person’s true identity through aliases, misinformation, isolation, or the removal of identifying evidence. This 25-letter linguistic felony was fabricated by the Roxy Institute of Central Fucktion—and then handed to Kissy without mercy. Content warning: This episode discusses the murders of children and adults, blunt-force trauma, child abduction, intimate-partner violence, unidentified remains, and the disposal and concealment of victims. Marlyse Elizabeth Honeychurch.Marie Elizabeth Vaughn.Sarah Lynn McWaters.Rea Rasmussen. Four names. Four lives. No longer forgotten.
