Police investigating the suspicious death of 11-year-old Celina Cass focused on the fifth grader's home today, taking a truck that neighbors said was driven by the girl's stepfather.Investigators hauled away a silver pickup truck from the Cass home this afternoon, part of their continued search for evidence and witnesses.Neighbor Shannon Towle told ABCNews.com that Wendell Noyes, Celina's stepfather, drives a truck matching that description. She often sees Noyes at her husband's West Stewartstown store, Towles Mini Mart, where he is a regular customer."I know he drives a pickup," she said. "It's silver."She said in the small town of 800 the fact that he drives a silver pickup is "common knowledge."The Associated Press also reported today that neighbors identified the pickup truck as a vehicle that is driven by Noyes.Celina Cass' Stepfather Wendell Noyes: Past Arrest, Strange BehaviorNoyes, 47, was taken by ambulance to a hospital Monday after behaving bizarrely. His odd behavior and hospitalization came about the same time that searchers found the girl's body in a nearby lake next to a dam.The house was later surrounded by crime scene tape.Court documents obtained by ABC News reveal that Celina's stepfather, Wendell Noyes, has a troubled past.In 2003, the stepfather was involuntarily committed to a hospital because of schizophrenia and arrested for threatening an ex-girlfriend, according to court documents.
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What Happened to Celina Cass?Watch Video
Celina Cass' Body Found in New Hampshire Watch VideoNoyes was charged with violating a protective order held by his ex-girlfriend and for criminal trespassing, criminal threatening and hindering apprehension. The girlfriend, who lived with her two kids at the time, said Noyes broke into her home while she was sleeping, lifted her mattress and slammed it down and then threatened to throw her down the stairs.While awaiting trial, a judge ruled Noyes incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to be involuntarily placed in a hospital. Judge Richard Hampe wrote that Noyes' mental illness creates "a potentially serious likelihood of danger to himself and others." A forensic examiner deemed Noyes a paranoid schizophrenic who likely developed his mental illness while in the Air Force, according to court documents.So far nobody, including Noyes, has been named a suspect in Celina's disappearance and death.New Hampshire Town Prepares for Celina Cass' Funeral, and Cause of DeathAssistant Attorney General Jane Young said Tuesday evening that Celina's autopsy has been completed and the cause and manner of death are still pending.A dive team pulled Celina's remains from the Connecticut River Monday, just a quarter mile from her hometown of West Stewartstown, N.H."The death certificate indicates the cause and manner of death are pending toxicology reports and further investigation," Young said at a brief news conference Tuesday evening.Despite these findings, Young said, the Attorney General's office continues to investigate the death as suspicious based on "a visual observation of Miss Cass' body both in and out of water." Young warned the community to remain vigilant."It's kind of overwhelming for the whole town," said Shannon Towle, 48, who lives across the street from the Cass family. "I just don't think they're sharing everything. I hope they have more to go on."The town is scared, Towle said, adding she's especially worried because she has a 13-year-old daughter.Celina, was last seen Monday evening, July 25, at a computer in the home where she lives with her mother, stepfather and 13-year-old sister.As the town awaits more information about Celina's death, her body has been turned over to the family, the Associated Press reported.The memorial service for Celina Cass will be in West Stewartstown, according to a Facebook post from consignment shop Lads and Ladybugs, where Celina's mother, Louisa Noyes, works. The store will be closed until Monday, August 8.Despite the town's heartbreak over Celina's death, West Stewartstown will hold its annual children's festival, called Stewartstown Days, in honor of Celina."We're hoping this is going to be the first step in our healing process," a festival committee member told ABCNews.com.
Police investigating the suspicious death of 11-year-old Celina Cass focused on the fifth grader's home today, taking a truck that neighbors said was driven by the girl's stepfather.
Investigators hauled away a silver pickup truck from the Cass home this afternoon, part of their continued search for evidence and witnesses.
Neighbor Shannon Towle told ABCNews.com that Wendell Noyes, Celina's stepfather, drives a truck matching that description. She often sees Noyes at her husband's West Stewartstown store, Towles Mini Mart, where he is a regular customer.
"I know he drives a pickup," she said. "It's silver."
She said in the small town of 800 the fact that he drives a silver pickup is "common knowledge."
The Associated Press also reported today that neighbors identified the pickup truck as a vehicle that is driven by Noyes.
Celina Cass' Stepfather Wendell Noyes: Past Arrest, Strange Behavior
Noyes, 47, was taken by ambulance to a hospital Monday after behaving bizarrely. His odd behavior and hospitalization came about the same time that searchers found the girl's body in a nearby lake next to a dam.
The house was later surrounded by crime scene tape.
Court documents obtained by ABC News reveal that Celina's stepfather, Wendell Noyes, has a troubled past.
In 2003, the stepfather was involuntarily committed to a hospital because of schizophrenia and arrested for threatening an ex-girlfriend, according to court documents.
Dow Bounces Back; Tropical Storm Emily Takes Aim on Haiti Watch Video
What Happened to Celina Cass?Watch Video
Celina Cass' Body Found in New Hampshire Watch Video
Noyes was charged with violating a protective order held by his ex-girlfriend and for criminal trespassing, criminal threatening and hindering apprehension. The girlfriend, who lived with her two kids at the time, said Noyes broke into her home while she was sleeping, lifted her mattress and slammed it down and then threatened to throw her down the stairs.
While awaiting trial, a judge ruled Noyes incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to be involuntarily placed in a hospital. Judge Richard Hampe wrote that Noyes' mental illness creates "a potentially serious likelihood of danger to himself and others." A forensic examiner deemed Noyes a paranoid schizophrenic who likely developed his mental illness while in the Air Force, according to court documents.
So far nobody, including Noyes, has been named a suspect in Celina's disappearance and death.
New Hampshire Town Prepares for Celina Cass' Funeral, and Cause of Death
Assistant Attorney General Jane Young said Tuesday evening that Celina's autopsy has been completed and the cause and manner of death are still pending.
A dive team pulled Celina's remains from the Connecticut River Monday, just a quarter mile from her hometown of West Stewartstown, N.H.
"The death certificate indicates the cause and manner of death are pending toxicology reports and further investigation," Young said at a brief news conference Tuesday evening.
Despite these findings, Young said, the Attorney General's office continues to investigate the death as suspicious based on "a visual observation of Miss Cass' body both in and out of water." Young warned the community to remain vigilant.
"It's kind of overwhelming for the whole town," said Shannon Towle, 48, who lives across the street from the Cass family. "I just don't think they're sharing everything. I hope they have more to go on."
The town is scared, Towle said, adding she's especially worried because she has a 13-year-old daughter.
Celina, was last seen Monday evening, July 25, at a computer in the home where she lives with her mother, stepfather and 13-year-old sister.
As the town awaits more information about Celina's death, her body has been turned over to the family, the Associated Press reported.
The memorial service for Celina Cass will be in West Stewartstown, according to a Facebook post from consignment shop Lads and Ladybugs, where Celina's mother, Louisa Noyes, works. The store will be closed until Monday, August 8.
Despite the town's heartbreak over Celina's death, West Stewartstown will hold its annual children's festival, called Stewartstown Days, in honor of Celina.
"We're hoping this is going to be the first step in our healing process," a festival committee member told ABCNews.com.
Celina Cass: Police Take Ford Pickup Truck for Clues
By Eryn Sun | Christian Post Reporter
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E-mailAfter Celina Cass’ body was found on Monday in the Connecticut River, police have been investigating the cause of death, searching her home – where she was last seen – on Wednesday for answers.
The 11-year-old who went missing on July 25 disappeared from her room late in the evening, where she lived with her biological mother, stepfather, and older sister. Her body was recovered a few days later in the river, close to a hydroelectric dam near her home, local reports revealed.
Though authorities suspected no signs of trouble in the home when the search initially launched according to Fox News, police now believe foul play was involved in the death of the young girl “based on what [they had] seen visually.”
Whether the family members are connected to what appears to be an evolving homicide case still remains unclear.
New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young told The Boston Globe, “Now because we are treating this as a suspicious death, we are going back [to the house] to see if there’s any evidence that could assist in our criminal investigation.”
The Globe reported that police cars were seen outside of the Cass home Wednesday morning, where investigators thoroughly searched for clues. A Ford pickup was also taken from the home, possibly belonging to the stepfather or mother, and perhaps able to provide some answers to the case.
Recent autopsy results yielded no conclusive evidence as of yet, and investigators are waiting to hear back from the toxicology reports.
Although police have yet to identify any suspects, they have questioned the girl’s stepfather Wendell Noyes, who had a history of schizophrenia and was even arrested in 2003 for threatening his ex-girlfriend.
The girl’s biological father, Adam Laro is still alive and told CNN recently that he does not understand why anyone would want to hurt his daughter who he described as “very kind in spirit.”
He told reporters that when he last saw her, she seemed happy both at home and at school. But Laro later revealed to WHDH-TV his suspicions about the stepfather, whose odd behavior during the recent events fueled further questions.
Noyes was seen rolling around in his driveway a few hours before Cass’ body was discovered.
“We have our own suspicions,” Marica Laro, Cass’ grandmother told WHDH-TV, “but we can’t say anything.”
"can't" indicates restriction, which could be knowledge, repercussions, etc.
The family and local residents are hoping investigators quickly solve the case, unsettled in the mystery surrounding the death and in fear of their own safety as well.
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