Hunter finds remains of missing Rutland man
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Mike Hogan. |
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By Cristina Kumka STAFF WRITER - Published: November 18, 2009
SHREWSBURY — The mystery surrounding a Rutland man's disappearance from Spring Lake Ranch four years ago ended Tuesday when police confirmed that a skull found in the woods by a deer hunter was that of William "Mike" Hogan.
The skull, the only piece of evidence police found Sunday, was within walking distance of Spring Lake in Cuttingsville, where friends from the ranch last saw 28-year-old Hogan on May 16, 2005.
The Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed it was Hogan through dental records Tuesday morning, according to State Police.
"There is still no new information to indicate the circumstances of Mr. (William) Hogan's disappearance is suspicious at this time," according to a police press release.
The investigation remains open and detective Lt. Timothy Oliver said investigators and police dogs would comb the area adjacent to the ranch where the skull was found in hopes of finding more remains or clothing.
Police and Hogan's family have yet to find out how and why the man died following his disappearance from the ranch more than four years ago.
"Right now, we don't know anything," said Hogan's father. Michael Hogan. from Florida Tuesday, hours after he got the call from police that his son's remains had been found.
"We know Michael's dead."
In 2005, Hogan moved to Vermont and became a client at the ranch to treat a severe case of obsessive compulsive disorder, his mother, Sandra Hopkins, said in a May interview.
At the time of his disappearance, Hogan was living in Rutland and working at the ranch.
He was on powerful medications when he vanished from outside the ranch's dining room around midday May 16, according to police.
His father said before Hogan disappeared he was planning a trip home to Maryland for his brother's high school graduation.
The mysterious disappearance sparked a nationwide manhunt, three underwater searches of Spring Lake, and sent the Hogan family to Vermont and California chasing down leads and people who claimed to have seen their son.
"Well, until you have proof otherwise, you keep your hopes alive," Michael Hogan said. "At least now we can hopefully find out what happened and at least we can put his body to rest."
Jim Taggart, executive director of Spring Lake Ranch, said the ranch assisted the family and the police in any way it could in searching for the lost man over the years.
"Well, it's a sad day for the Spring Lake Ranch community and whatever hope that was out there that he (Hogan) was out there we no longer have … that's vanished," Taggart said.
"We hope that this brings closure to the family."
Anyone with information on Hogan's disappearance on May 16, 2005, is asked to call State Police at 773-9101.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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