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NEED TO KNOW
- Human remains found in a Connecticut lake have been identified as belonging to Robert Cavanaugh, who was reported missing on Christmas Eve 2004
- The father of four was 51 when he went missing, according to his daughter
- Robert’s daughter acknowledged her dad “struggled with mental illness toward the end” of his life
The remains of a dad who disappeared on Christmas Eve 2004 have been found in a lake in Connecticut.
Troopers responded to Mansfield Hollow Lake just after 2:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 5 “after the Mansfield Fire Department discovered human remains floating in the water,” according to a recent news release from Connecticut State Police (CSP).
An “expanded search” was conducted afterward, during which Emergency Services Unit (ESU) divers “recovered additional human remains” from a submerged vehicle, which was removed the next day.
The vehicle, a 1996 Mazda B2300 pickup truck, was later determined to belong to Robert Cavanaugh, who went missing on Dec. 24, 2004.
On Nov. 13, the medical examiner’s officer notified the Eastern District Major Crime Squad (EDMC) that DNA from the remains found in the truck were “positively matched” to Cavanaugh.
Additionally, “multiple identifying items” were found inside the truck that was pulled from the water.
Connecticut State Police
Robert was a father of four who worked as a long-haul trucker and a Connecticut prison guard, his daughter Diana Cavanagh said, according to CT Insider. He was 51 when he disappeared.
Diana, a retired federal agent, said her father dreamed of working in law enforcement and began working for the state Department of Correction in 1999.
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Diana acknowledged that her father “definitely struggled with mental illness toward the end” of his life.
“It’s been an important part of my family’s journey to be open about mental health and how important it is to have help and resources to deal with it,” Diana told CT Insider.
According to police, Robert was believed to have left behind a suicide note at the time he went missing.
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Diana applauded both state police and the medical examiner’s office for their handling of the case. “They were just phenomenal,” she said.
An upcoming funeral will be private, according to his daughter.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
