Final Bear Brook Murder Victim Identified After 40-Year Investigation

The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit has identified Rea Rasmussen as the final victim of the Bear Brook murders, closing a more than 40-year investigation. Rea, born in 1976 in Orange County, California, was the biological daughter of serial killer Terry Peder Rasmussen and Pepper Reed, who remains missing and is suspected to have been another victim. The case involved four victims discovered in barrels in Bear Brook State Park, with the first barrel found in 1985 and the second in 2000. Identification was achieved through advanced genetic genealogy in partnership with the DNA Doe Project, marking a significant use of this technology in cold case investigations. Authorities continue to investigate Pepper Reed's disappearance and Terry Rasmussen’s movements. The resolution brings closure to the victims' identities but leaves unanswered questions about the full scope of Rasmussen's crimes.