Vermont State Police describe disappearance of 82-year-old Enosburgh woman as ‘suspicious’

ENOSBURGH – Vermont State Police are calling the disappearance of an 82-year-old Enosburgh woman “suspicious” and investigators were searching for clues Thursday.

Roberta Martin last had telephone contact with her family around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and has not been seen or heard from since, state police said.

Neighbors went to her apartment to check on her around 11:55 a.m. Wednesday, police reported. When they found she was not at the Butternut Hollow Road home where she had lived for the past 24 years, they reported her missing to authorities.

“Investigators have received information indicating that Ms. Martin’s disappearance is suspicious,” State Police said in a news release Thursday afternoon. “To ensure the integrity of the investigation, VSP cannot provide any further comment at this time regarding the evidence that led to this conclusion.”

According to the press release, Martin is in good health “both physically and mentally.”

Maj. Dan Trudeau, chief of the state police’s criminal investigations division, reiterated later Thursday afternoon at a press conference outside the Enosburgh Public Safety Building that he would not comment on the specific details that led investigators to consider Martin’s disappearance suspicious.

“It’s certainly suspicious because we haven’t found her, she’s not at home, which is not her normal pattern of life where she’s normally in contact with her family a lot,” Trudeau said. “Again, I can’t speak to some of the things we see in the house.”

However, he said investigators had found “some possible evidence.”

The state police SWAT team truck sat in the driveway of the one-story home Thursday while investigators searched the scene. The Butternut Hollow Road home, where Martin lived alone, is not far from the intersection with Sand Hill Road, about 5 miles outside of downtown Enosburgh.

In addition, on Thursday morning and into the afternoon, detectives and uniformed patrol officers could be seen on a neighboring property about 70 meters from Martin’s residence.

Nathan Clifford, a resident of that home, said state police were interested in the property after finding duct tape in the backyard.

“It’s about two years old and buried in the dirt,” he said of the tape found on his property. He said the tape was from when he taped some wires together.

“They found tape in their house and in their backyard. When they saw the tape in my backyard, they didn’t care because it was two years old and buried in the dirt,” Clifford said.

Clifford, 49, was leaving his home in a pickup truck with several other people who had been in the house when he spoke briefly with reporters.

“They kick us all out and get a search warrant,” he said.

Clifford said he had known Martin for many years and described her as a “sweet old lady,” adding that he could not imagine anyone wanting to harm her.

Trudeau said at the press conference later Thursday afternoon that he could not say much publicly about the house next to Martin and the investigators’ interest in it.

“I can say that we have seized the house next door and will be applying for a search warrant,” he said, adding: “We are applying for a search warrant because we believe we have reasonable grounds to search it. Unfortunately, I cannot say anything beyond that.”

Trudeau said investigators would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area of ​​Sand Hill Road and Butternut Hollow Road between 10 p.m. Tuesday and noon Wednesday.

He also said that state police received several tips regarding people walking or jogging in the area during that time period.

Trudeau said “dozens and dozens” of people were involved in the search for Martin and the investigation into her disappearance.

“We are still looking for her so that she is alive,” he said. “That is the attitude of everyone here and of the search teams.”

The State Police are being assisted in the search for Martin by several other agencies, including the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife, New England K9 Search and Rescue and the Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team.

In addition, the press release stated that state police officials were aware of several false reports and “potentially fraudulent or deceptive posts” on social media related to the ongoing investigation into Martin’s disappearance.

“The public is advised that the sole source for the release of official information is the Vermont State Police,” the press release said.

Martin is described by state police as being approximately 5’1″ tall and weighing 110 pounds. According to the press release, she has white hair and brown eyes.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated when Roberta Martin’s family last heard from her.