John Francis Deveau, a 61-year-old resident of Branford, Connecticut, was last seen on May 24, 2013. His disappearance occurred during the Memorial Day weekend of that year and sparked a lengthy and troubling investigation. Prior to his disappearance, Deveau had reported to the police that he had been the victim of a significant larceny, involving approximately $30,000 taken from his ATM account.
The individual suspected in this theft was known to Deveau and was reportedly the last person to have seen him. This person of interest was known to have connections to Bristol, New Britain, and Massachusetts. At the time he went missing, Deveau was described as a white male, 5'11' tall, weighing around 170 pounds, with balding, light brown hair and a light brown mustache. He was last known to be wearing a hat similar to the one depicted in photos released at the time of his disappearance.
The investigation into John Deveau's disappearance was led by the Branford Police Department, who worked in close collaboration with the Connecticut State Police and the New Haven State's Attorney's office. In a significant development, Deveau's neighbor, Thomas Malinka, was arrested in connection with his death. Malinka, who had a history of criminal charges, including a prior arrest for stealing from Deveau's home, was charged with murder in June 2014. Even without the full recovery of Deveau's body at the time of the arrest, authorities were confident in the evidence they had compiled against Malinka.
Sometime after he was reported missing, partial remains of John Deveau were recovered in the New Britain, Connecticut area. This discovery confirmed the tragic outcome of his case, and he is now registered as deceased in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The case of John Deveau is a somber illustration of a missing person's case that transitioned into a homicide investigation. The initial report of a financial crime escalated into a mysterious disappearance, culminating in the arrest of a neighbor and the heartbreaking discovery of his remains. The diligent work of law enforcement brought a suspect to justice, though the full circumstances of his final moments may never be completely known. The case will remain in the NamUs database due to the partial recovery of his remains.Last Seen: May 24, 2013
