Connecticut v. Crafts: The Woodchipper Murder Case File

October 6, 2025

Case Overview

State v. Richard B. Crafts
Connecticut Superior Court, Norwalk
Murder in the First Degree: Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a

Richard Crafts being escorted by police officers after arrest in the 1986 Helle Crafts murder case.

This case represents Connecticut’s first murder conviction without a victim’s body, earning infamy as the “Woodchipper Murder” due to the defendant’s method of disposing of his wife’s remains. The case established legal precedent for prosecuting homicide cases based solely on circumstantial evidence and forensic analysis.

Key Participants

Victim

Helle Lorck Nielsen Crafts

Born: July 7, 1947 (Denmark)
Age at death: 39
Occupation: Pan American World Airways flight attendant
Married to Richard Crafts in 1975
Mother of three children (ages 8, 10, and 12 at time of disappearance)
Last seen alive: November 18, 1986

Defendant

Richard B. Crafts

Age at trial: 51
Occupation: Eastern Airlines pilot (19-year veteran)
Former CIA contractor (Air America, Southeast Asia)
Part-time police officer (Newtown and Southbury)
Convicted: November 21, 1989
Sentenced: January 8, 1990 – 50 years imprisonment

Police officers escort a handcuffed individual related to the Connecticut woodchipper murder case.

Legal Teams

Prosecution:

State’s Attorney Walter D. Flanagan (Danbury)
Assistant State’s Attorney Julia DiCocco Dewey
Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Cotter

Defense:

Gerard Smyth (Chief Public Defender’s Office)
Thomas E. Farver (Special Public Defender)
J. Donald Sagarin (First trial)

Crime Scene and Timeline

November 18, 1986 – Day of Disappearance

Evening: Helle Crafts returns from Frankfurt flight, dropped off at 5 Newfield Lane, Newtown by coworkers
Night: Major snowstorm hits Connecticut area
Approximately 3:30 AM (November 19): Joseph Hine, snow plow operator, observes suspicious activity – man with U-Haul truck and woodchipper near Lake Zoar during blizzard

November 19, 1986 – Morning After

6:00 AM: Richard Crafts rushes children and live-in nanny Dawn Marie Thomas from home, claiming power outage due to storm
Claims Helle left earlier for his sister’s house in Westport
Arrives at sister Karen Rodgers’ house without Helle, offers no explanation for her absence

Timeline of Suspicious Purchases

Pre-November 18: Purchase of new Westinghouse chest freezer using alias
November 20: Rental of Asplundh Badger Brush Bandit 100 woodchipper
Various dates: Chainsaw, bed sheets, comforter, rubber gloves, shovel

Newspaper coverage of the Woodchipper Murder investigation featuring crime scene images and police action in Connecticut, 1987.

Investigation

Initial Missing Person Report

December 1, 1986: Private investigator Keith Mayo reports Helle missing to Newtown Police
December 4, 1986: Richard interviewed by police, claims Helle visiting Canary Islands

Key Witness – Joseph Hine

Highway department employee who observed suspicious nighttime activity during the snowstorm. His testimony provided crucial timeline evidence linking Richard Crafts to the disposal site during the critical timeframe.

Crime Scene Discovery at Lake Zoar

Location: Silver Bridge area, River Road, Southbury (border with Newtown)

Evidence Recovered:

2,660 strands of bleached blonde hair
69 slivers of human bone
5 droplets of Type O blood (matching Helle’s blood type)
2 teeth including dental crown
3 ounces of human tissue
Human fingernail with pink polish
Piece of human finger and toenail
Mail addressed to “Miss Helle Crafts”
Blue fabric matching Helle’s clothing

The Newtown Bee newspaper from 1987 reporting on the murder case of Helle Crafts involving forensic investigation by Connecticut State Police.

Forensic Evidence

Dr. Henry Lee’s Analysis

Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory Director Dr. Henry Lee led the forensic investigation. His team conducted extensive analysis that became crucial to the prosecution’s case.

Home Investigation:

Used luminol and TMB testing to reveal Type O blood stains on carpet and mattress
Documented missing carpet sections and bedspring from master bedroom
Found evidence of cleanup attempts

Lake Zoar Recovery:

Chainsaw recovered from lake bottom with blonde hair and blood traces
Serial number restoration linked chainsaw purchase to Richard Crafts
Forensic comparison of pig carcass through woodchipper matched human remains patterns

Dental Identification

Forensic dentist Constantine Karazulas positively identified tooth crown and fragments through X-ray comparison with Helle’s dental records. This identification was crucial for establishing death and victim identity.

The ‘Brush Bandit’ woodchipper linked to the Connecticut State Police forensic investigation in the Helle Crafts murder case.

Legal Proceedings

First Trial – May 1988, New London

Duration: 54 days of testimony
Evidence: 650 pieces presented
Witnesses: Over 100 called
Outcome: Mistrial declared after 17 days of jury deliberation
Holdout: Single juror Warren Maskell refused to continue deliberations, citing “abusive and coercive” conditions

Second Trial – September 1989, Norwalk

Jury Selection: 10 men, 2 women selected from 46 prospective jurors
Duration: Two months of proceedings
Deliberation: 4 days (approximately 8 hours of actual deliberation)
Verdict: Guilty of Murder in the First Degree, November 21, 1989
Foreman: John David Walton described “building block analysis” approach

Sentencing – January 8, 1990

Judge Martin L. Nigro, Superior Court

Sentence: 50 years imprisonment
Range Available: 20-60 years for first-degree murder
Victim Impact: Sister Karen Rodgers (children’s guardian) urged maximum sentence, citing lack of remorse
Defendant Statement: Crafts claimed emotional misrepresentation but did not address murder charges

Prosecution Theory

The state alleged Richard Crafts murdered his wife to avoid divorce proceedings and financial settlement. The prosecution’s reconstruction:

Murder: Bludgeoned Helle with blunt instrument (possibly Police flashlight) in master bedroom
Concealment: Stored body in newly purchased freezer to freeze remains
Dismemberment: Used chainsaw to cut frozen body into manageable pieces
Disposal: Fed body parts through rented woodchipper at Lake Zoar bridge
Cover-up: Ran fresh wood through chipper to eliminate evidence traces

Defense Strategy

The defense maintained Richard’s innocence and challenged the prosecution on several fronts:

Victim Identity: Questioned whether recovered remains belonged to Helle Crafts
Cause of Death: Argued state failed to prove homicide occurred
Evidence Reliability: Challenged forensic conclusions about human vs. animal remains
Alternative Theories: Suggested Helle voluntarily disappeared

Richard Crafts testified in his first trial, denying all charges, but did not take the stand in the second trial.

Legal Precedent

This case established Connecticut’s first murder conviction without a body, requiring the prosecution to prove both that a death occurred and that the defendant caused it. The Connecticut State Medical Examiner issued Helle’s death certificate based solely on the recovered dental crown.

The case demonstrated the effectiveness of advanced forensic techniques in circumstantial evidence cases and influenced future prosecutions of similar crimes nationwide.

Post-Conviction

Appeals

Richard Crafts’ conviction was upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1993. Defense appeals focused on:

Venue changes and jury selection procedures
Media coverage impact on fair trial rights
Police recording procedure

Incarceration and Release

Imprisonment: 1990-2020 (30 years served)
Early Release: January 30, 2020, based on “good time” credits available under 1980s sentencing laws
Current Status: Released to halfway house in Bridgeport for veterans
Disciplinary Record: Two minor infractions during 30-year incarceration

Family Impact

The three Crafts children were placed in custody of Richard’s sister, Karen Rodgers, in Westport. They have maintained distance from their father and chosen to remain private following his conviction.

Case Significance

The Crafts case represents a landmark in American criminal justice, demonstrating how forensic science can overcome the traditional requirement of a victim’s body in murder prosecutions. Dr. Henry Lee’s forensic work on this case contributed to his national reputation and influenced countless subsequent investigations.

The case inspired the 1996 film “Fargo” and remains a studied example of circumstantial evidence prosecution in law schools nationwide. It established precedent for “no body” homicide cases and showcased the power of collaborative forensic investigation techniques.

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