Police detain man in killing
No charges laid in Woodstock death
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Charles H. Haynes Jr. |
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By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: July 3, 2009
Police said a transient man is a person of interest in the homicide of an elderly woman.
Rayneeta Woodward, 78, was found dead Wednesday afternoon in her mobile home at 703 Curtis Hollow Road in Woodstock. According to documents filed with White River Junction District Court, Woodward's body was hidden beneath a pile of clothing and there was a large amount of fresh blood throughout the residence.
Woodward's body was transported to Burlington, where Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Shapiro ruled Woodward's death a homicide by blunt trauma.
A number of investigators — including state police detectives and crime scene investigators, medical examiners and the Bridgewater constable — descended on the crime scene and began to search for Charles H. Haynes Jr., 51, a transient who police believed was responsible for a rash of burglaries in the area.
According to affidavits, around 8 p.m., Bridgewater Constable Ed Earle received word that Haynes — known locally as "Punky" — had just called a friend looking for a ride and police traced the number to another house on Curtis Hollow Road believed to be unoccupied. When they responded to the house, they found the rear door ajar and later located Haynes in a field behind the house.
Thursday afternoon, Haynes was arraigned in White River Junction District Court on a felony charge of unlawful trespass, as well as felony charges of burglary and burglary of an occupied dwelling related to a pair of incidents in Bridgewater earlier this month.
Haynes, dressed in an orange prison uniform, did not speak during his arraignment but his lawyer Elizabeth Kruska entered innocent pleas on his behalf. Noting Haynes' lack of a permanent address — affidavits state he was believed to be living in the woods — his alleged desire to flee the area and his possible 43-year sentence if convicted of all three charges, Judge Theresa DiMauro set his bail at $50,000, and he is being held at the Springfield prison.
While Haynes has not been charged in connection with Woodward's death, police consider him a person of interest. Investigators are studying evidence collected at the scene and a Woodstock police officer kept watch over the taped-off residence Thursday.
According to affidavits, police interviewed a Bridgewater resident who said it was common knowledge that Haynes had been entering homes in the area during the past few months and stealing money and food. His burglary charges appear to stem from the alleged thefts from residences on Center and Hale Hollow roads.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the State Police Royalton Barracks at 234-9933.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com