Murder Of Helle Crafts
Spousal Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Newtown, Connecticut
TIME PERIOD
November 19, 1986
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
The case involves the murder of Helle Crafts, a Danish flight attendant, by her husband, Richard Crafts, an airline pilot. Helle was last seen on November 18, 1986, at their Newtown, Connecticut home, following a confrontation regarding Richard's suspected infidelity. Despite the absence of her body, Richard was convicted of murder in 1989, marking the first such conviction in Connecticut without a victim's remains. Significant evidence included witness testimonies, Richard's inconsistent accounts of Helle's whereabouts, and the discovery of blood and other forensic evidence in their home. The case remains a landmark in forensic and legal history due to its unique circumstances.
Richard Crafts murdered Helle Crafts after she confronted him about his infidelity, leading to speculation that he was motivated by a desire to silence her in the face of impending divorce. Investigators and the public believe he disposed of her body in a way that would make it difficult to recover, as evidenced by the lack of a body at trial, which resulted in Connecticut's first murder conviction without one. Some theories also suggest that Richard may have planned the murder in advance, given the circumstances surrounding Helle's disappearance and his subsequent inconsistent stories.
The Chilling Murder of Helle Crafts
A Fateful Marriage
Helle Lorck Nielsen, born on July 7, 1947, in Charlottenlund, Denmark, was a Danish flight attendant whose life took a dark turn when she married Richard Crafts, an Eastern Air Lines pilot, in 1975. Settling in Newtown, Connecticut, the couple maintained a seemingly ordinary life, raising three children while Helle continued her career in the skies. However, beneath this veneer of normalcy lay a storm brewing, one that would lead to one of Connecticut’s most infamous murder cases.
Disappearance and Deception
In 1986, Helle began to suspect her husband of infidelity, fueled by suspicious long-distance phone calls. A confrontation ensued, angering Richard. Determined to uncover the truth, Helle engaged a private investigator, Keith Mayo, who caught Richard in a compromising act, kissing another flight attendant in New Jersey. On November 18 of that same year, Helle returned home from a long flight from Frankfurt, West Germany. Friends dropped her off at the Crafts' Newtown residence, but she was never seen again.
That night, a snowstorm swept through the area, and by the next morning, Richard claimed he was taking Helle and their children to his sister’s house in Westport. Curiously, Helle was not with him. Over the following weeks, Richard spun a web of conflicting tales to Helle’s friends about her whereabouts: she was in Denmark visiting her mother, on vacation in the Canary Islands, or simply unaccounted for. Her friends, aware of Richard’s volatile temper, grew alarmed, especially since Helle had ominously warned them, “If something happens to me, don’t assume it was an accident.” On December 1, an uneasy Keith Mayo reported her missing to the Newtown Police, only to be initially dismissed with assurances that she would likely return.
The Investigation Begins
Frustrated but undeterred, Mayo escalated the matter, presenting his findings to the county prosecutor. This set in motion an investigation by the Connecticut State Police. On December 26, while Richard vacationed in Florida with the children, state troopers searched the Crafts’ home. Their findings were unsettling: pieces of carpet had been removed from the master bedroom, where a dark stain once marked the floor. Additionally, a blood smear was found on the bed mattress. Henry Lee, a forensic investigator for the state police, led the ensuing investigation.
Richard’s credit card statements revealed peculiar purchases around the time of Helle's disappearance: a freezer, bed sheets, a comforter, and notably, the rental of a woodchipper. Among the receipts handed over to investigators was one for a chainsaw, which was later discovered in Lake Zoar, covered in hair and blood matching Helle’s DNA.
A key witness emerged in the form of Joseph Hine, a town worker from Southbury. On the stormy night of November 18, he had spotted a rental truck towing a woodchipper near the shore of Lake Zoar. This sighting, initially unreported, became significant after the house search. Hine guided detectives to the scene, where they discovered small metal fragments and approximately 3 ounces (85 g) of human tissue, including a tooth crown, a fingernail with pink polish, bone chips, and 2,660 bleached blonde hairs—all matching Helle’s blood type, O.
The Chilling Conclusion
The evidence pointed to a gruesome conclusion: Richard had likely struck Helle with a blunt object, causing the bloodstains on the carpet, then stored her body in a freezer until it froze solid. He subsequently dismembered her with the chainsaw before feeding her remains through the woodchipper, scattering them along the lake’s shore.
Despite the absence of a body, the forensic team, led by a forensic dentist, matched the tooth crown to Helle’s dental records. Consequently, the Connecticut State Medical Examiner’s Office issued a death certificate on January 13, 1987, prompting Richard’s arrest. In preparation for trial, the state medical examiner, H. Wayne Carver, conducted an experiment using a pig carcass passed through a woodchipper. The resulting bone chips mirrored the marks found on Helle’s remains, solidifying the theory of how she was disposed of.
The Trials and Verdict
The case, marked by extensive publicity, began its first trial in May 1988 in New London. After 54 days, the jury was deadlocked due to a single juror advocating for acquittal, resulting in a mistrial. A second trial, held in Norwalk, concluded with a guilty verdict on November 21, 1989. Richard Crafts was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
On January 30, 2020, Richard was released early due to "statutory good time" for good behavior and jailhouse jobs, transitioning to a halfway house in Bridgeport.
Cultural Impact
The harrowing murder of Helle Crafts has permeated popular culture, inspiring the 1996 film "Fargo" and serving as the subject of the opening episode of "Forensic Files."
Sources
For more detailed accounts and references, please visit the Wikipedia page.
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Helle Crafts Disappears
Helle Crafts is last seen after returning from a flight.
Missing Person Report Filed
Private investigator Keith Mayo reports Helle missing to the police.
Search of Crafts' Home
Police find evidence including carpet and blood stains in Richard Crafts' home.
Death Certificate Issued
Medical examiner issues death certificate for Helle Crafts based on forensic evidence.
Richard Crafts' Trial Begins
Trial for Richard Crafts begins in New London, Connecticut.
Mistrial Declared
A mistrial is declared after jurors cannot reach a unanimous verdict.
Guilty Verdict
Richard Crafts is found guilty of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Richard Crafts Released
Richard Crafts is released from prison to a halfway house after serving time.
The case involves the murder of Helle Crafts, a Danish flight attendant, by her husband, Richard Crafts, an airline pilot. Helle was last seen on November 18, 1986, at their Newtown, Connecticut home, following a confrontation regarding Richard's suspected infidelity. Despite the absence of her body, Richard was convicted of murder in 1989, marking the first such conviction in Connecticut without a victim's remains. Significant evidence included witness testimonies, Richard's inconsistent accounts of Helle's whereabouts, and the discovery of blood and other forensic evidence in their home. The case remains a landmark in forensic and legal history due to its unique circumstances.
Richard Crafts murdered Helle Crafts after she confronted him about his infidelity, leading to speculation that he was motivated by a desire to silence her in the face of impending divorce. Investigators and the public believe he disposed of her body in a way that would make it difficult to recover, as evidenced by the lack of a body at trial, which resulted in Connecticut's first murder conviction without one. Some theories also suggest that Richard may have planned the murder in advance, given the circumstances surrounding Helle's disappearance and his subsequent inconsistent stories.
The Chilling Murder of Helle Crafts
A Fateful Marriage
Helle Lorck Nielsen, born on July 7, 1947, in Charlottenlund, Denmark, was a Danish flight attendant whose life took a dark turn when she married Richard Crafts, an Eastern Air Lines pilot, in 1975. Settling in Newtown, Connecticut, the couple maintained a seemingly ordinary life, raising three children while Helle continued her career in the skies. However, beneath this veneer of normalcy lay a storm brewing, one that would lead to one of Connecticut’s most infamous murder cases.
Disappearance and Deception
In 1986, Helle began to suspect her husband of infidelity, fueled by suspicious long-distance phone calls. A confrontation ensued, angering Richard. Determined to uncover the truth, Helle engaged a private investigator, Keith Mayo, who caught Richard in a compromising act, kissing another flight attendant in New Jersey. On November 18 of that same year, Helle returned home from a long flight from Frankfurt, West Germany. Friends dropped her off at the Crafts' Newtown residence, but she was never seen again.
That night, a snowstorm swept through the area, and by the next morning, Richard claimed he was taking Helle and their children to his sister’s house in Westport. Curiously, Helle was not with him. Over the following weeks, Richard spun a web of conflicting tales to Helle’s friends about her whereabouts: she was in Denmark visiting her mother, on vacation in the Canary Islands, or simply unaccounted for. Her friends, aware of Richard’s volatile temper, grew alarmed, especially since Helle had ominously warned them, “If something happens to me, don’t assume it was an accident.” On December 1, an uneasy Keith Mayo reported her missing to the Newtown Police, only to be initially dismissed with assurances that she would likely return.
The Investigation Begins
Frustrated but undeterred, Mayo escalated the matter, presenting his findings to the county prosecutor. This set in motion an investigation by the Connecticut State Police. On December 26, while Richard vacationed in Florida with the children, state troopers searched the Crafts’ home. Their findings were unsettling: pieces of carpet had been removed from the master bedroom, where a dark stain once marked the floor. Additionally, a blood smear was found on the bed mattress. Henry Lee, a forensic investigator for the state police, led the ensuing investigation.
Richard’s credit card statements revealed peculiar purchases around the time of Helle's disappearance: a freezer, bed sheets, a comforter, and notably, the rental of a woodchipper. Among the receipts handed over to investigators was one for a chainsaw, which was later discovered in Lake Zoar, covered in hair and blood matching Helle’s DNA.
A key witness emerged in the form of Joseph Hine, a town worker from Southbury. On the stormy night of November 18, he had spotted a rental truck towing a woodchipper near the shore of Lake Zoar. This sighting, initially unreported, became significant after the house search. Hine guided detectives to the scene, where they discovered small metal fragments and approximately 3 ounces (85 g) of human tissue, including a tooth crown, a fingernail with pink polish, bone chips, and 2,660 bleached blonde hairs—all matching Helle’s blood type, O.
The Chilling Conclusion
The evidence pointed to a gruesome conclusion: Richard had likely struck Helle with a blunt object, causing the bloodstains on the carpet, then stored her body in a freezer until it froze solid. He subsequently dismembered her with the chainsaw before feeding her remains through the woodchipper, scattering them along the lake’s shore.
Despite the absence of a body, the forensic team, led by a forensic dentist, matched the tooth crown to Helle’s dental records. Consequently, the Connecticut State Medical Examiner’s Office issued a death certificate on January 13, 1987, prompting Richard’s arrest. In preparation for trial, the state medical examiner, H. Wayne Carver, conducted an experiment using a pig carcass passed through a woodchipper. The resulting bone chips mirrored the marks found on Helle’s remains, solidifying the theory of how she was disposed of.
The Trials and Verdict
The case, marked by extensive publicity, began its first trial in May 1988 in New London. After 54 days, the jury was deadlocked due to a single juror advocating for acquittal, resulting in a mistrial. A second trial, held in Norwalk, concluded with a guilty verdict on November 21, 1989. Richard Crafts was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
On January 30, 2020, Richard was released early due to "statutory good time" for good behavior and jailhouse jobs, transitioning to a halfway house in Bridgeport.
Cultural Impact
The harrowing murder of Helle Crafts has permeated popular culture, inspiring the 1996 film "Fargo" and serving as the subject of the opening episode of "Forensic Files."
Sources
For more detailed accounts and references, please visit the Wikipedia page.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Helle Crafts Disappears
Helle Crafts is last seen after returning from a flight.
Missing Person Report Filed
Private investigator Keith Mayo reports Helle missing to the police.
Search of Crafts' Home
Police find evidence including carpet and blood stains in Richard Crafts' home.
Death Certificate Issued
Medical examiner issues death certificate for Helle Crafts based on forensic evidence.
Richard Crafts' Trial Begins
Trial for Richard Crafts begins in New London, Connecticut.
Mistrial Declared
A mistrial is declared after jurors cannot reach a unanimous verdict.
Guilty Verdict
Richard Crafts is found guilty of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Richard Crafts Released
Richard Crafts is released from prison to a halfway house after serving time.