The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and state police announced sunday that the victim previously known as “The Middle Child” is Rea Rasmussen, born in 1976 in Orange County, california. She was the biological daughter of Terry Peder Rasmussen, the man believed responsible for the murders, and Pepper Reed, who was born in 1952 in Texas and has been missing since the late 1970s.

terry Rasmussen,who used the alias “Bob Evans” in New Hampshire,died in prison in 2010.He was a serial offender with a history of using false identities.

The Bear Brook case began in 1985 with the discovery of an adult woman and a young girl’s remains in a barrel in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. Fifteen years later, a second barrel containing the remains of two more girls was found nearby.

In 2017, investigators linked one of the victims to terry Rasmussen. By 2019, three of the victims were identified as Marlyse Honeychurch, terry Rasmussen’s former girlfriend, and her daughters, sarah McWaters and Marie Vaughn.

Firebird Forensics played a crucial role in the genetic analysis that cracked the case. DNA testing initially revealed connections through the case of Lisa Jensen, who was abducted by Rasmussen as an infant.

The Bear Brook case became a landmark in genetic testing, utilizing hair samples and advanced techniques to reassemble genetic code.

“Just getting to the point where (we) could actually use the technique to actually try build some (genetic) trees and identify somebody, all of that took forever,” said barbara Rae-Venter, president and founder of Firebird Forensics.

The hair samples were vital, as the remains contained mostly bacterial DNA, hindering proper analysis.

“We’re talking about a lot, not just hundreds, but thousands of hours,” Rae-Venter explained.

In January 2024, the New Hampshire state Police cold Case unit partnered with the DNA Doe Project, using further genetic genealogy testing to identify Rea Rasmussen.Her identity was officially confirmed on Sept. 5.

While all four Bear Brook victims have been identified, the inquiry into the disappearance of Pepper Reed continues. Authorities suspect she may also have been a victim of Terry Rasmussen.

“It’s vital to the family to know who their little sister was, so they can do whatever they need to do in terms of putting it all back together,” Rae-venter said.

Diane Kloepfer, Terry Rasmussen’s estranged daughter, shared her experience. She said he left her family when she was just 6 years old and has few memories of him, describing him as abusive.

“My mother and my father fought a lot when we were little,” she said. “Those are really the only memories I have of the two of them together, are violent and argumentative.”

For years, she and her siblings sought their father’s true identity, eventually discovering it on an online message board in her 40s.

After the first three victims were identified, she began advocating to identify her half-sister.

“That’s really the only reason I spoke out about it at all, in the hopes of doing the right thing and getting her name back,” she said of her media appearances.

Now that Rea has been identified, Kloepfer’s emotions are mixed.

She emphasizes that the story isn’t over until Pepper Reed’s case is resolved.She urges those following the case to allow the families directly involved to have their peace.

“They will tell their story when they’re ready.Let them be.”

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued a statement:

“This case has weighed on New Hampshire and the nation for decades. With Rea Rasmussen’s identification, all four victims now have their names back. This progress is the result of remarkable perseverance by law enforcement, forensic experts and our cold case unit. Our commitment to uncovering the truth,no matter how long it takes,remains unwavering. We continue to seek answers about the disappearance of pepper Reed.”

the Attorney General’s Office will hold a news conference on Monday at 11 a.m.to discuss the identification.

More details and victim impact statements are expected to be provided.