The family of Barbara Jean Monaco, who disappeared on August 24, 1978 at age 18, is photographed in Derby on 2/19/2012. Left to right are her sister, Joanne Monaco-Stec, mother, Pauline Monaco, sister, Theresa Maciog and brother-in-law, John Maciog. Photo by Arnold Gold/New Haven Register

By Brian McCready

Milford Bureau Chief

Almost 34 years ago, Barbara Jean Monaco, just 18, disappeared without a trace while celebrating her birthday in Virginia Beach, Va.

In many long-term missing persons cases, the family is in the dark about what happened to their loved one, but not so for the Monaco family. The Monaco family is all too aware of the grim details surrounding Barbara Jean’s disappearance and death.

An informant called “Condor” told authorities in April 1979 that four men abducted, raped and killed Monaco, who lived in Derby and had just graduated from Derby High School. The men tied a cinderblock to her body and threw her into a pond. She disappeared Aug. 24, 1978.

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By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
While investigators believe missing people like William Smolinski Jr. of Waterbury and Jose Ortiz of New Haven are murder victims, no arrests have been made — leaving their grieving families without answers, closure or justice.
A prosecution without a body can be challenging.
Tad DiBiase, a former federal prosecutor who manages the website nobodymurdercases.com, said in any murder case, the body is the best evidence.

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By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
A special team of state police investigators is being formed to focus on missing persons cases.
Sgt. James Thomas of the state police Central District Major Crime Squad, who will be leading the team, said it will include investigators from all major crime squads within the state police.
“There has been a (state police) missing persons unit, but this will be a new concept, which will encompass major crime detectives from all three districts,” Thomas said. “We are in the process now of putting it together.”

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Dr. Henry Lee: Chief Emeritus of the Connecticut State Police, Founder and Chair Professor of the Forensic Science Program at the University of New Haven 1/19/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Investigations Editor

The region’s nameless dead have been found floating in the Connecticut River, hidden in ditches and dumped in forests and near highways. Around the state, human remains have been found by street sweepers, hunters, hikers and passers-by and unearthed by construction crews.

Police have worked for years trying to figure out who they are — a young woman found murdered in East Haven still remains nameless after 37 years.

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By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
Some investigators with long unsolved cases of unidentified bodies have decided to post photographs of them online to try to identify them.
The Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office in Wisconsin began putting photographs of unidentified deceased on its web site in December, and the site now features cases going back to the 1970s.
Michael Simley, a forensic investigator with the Milwaukee office, said its new website feature so far hasn’t led to any positive identification of remains, but it has led to tips and promising leads. According to Simley, it is modeled after similar programs in other jurisdictions that have had success identifying people this way.

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