A couple is found murdered inside their Danby VT home In the quiet town of Danby, Vermont, a grim discovery shattered the community's sense of peace in September 1989. Catherine Peacock, a 73-year-old Caucasian female, and her husband, George, were found brutally murdered in their home on U.S. Route 7. A concerned neighbor made the discovery on September 17, 1989, after noticing the couple hadn't been seen for several days.
George, 76, who was known for his punctuality, had uncharacteristically missed his shift at the Rutland Travel Lodge.
Upon entering the residence, the neighbor found George Peacock at the foot of the stairs and Catherine in an upstairs bedroom. Both had been stabbed multiple times. The medical examiner would later determine that Catherine's death was the result of multiple stab wounds to her chest, heart, liver, and diaphragm. George also died from multiple stab wounds. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, suggesting the Peacocks likely knew their killer. While the house was not ransacked, Catherine's purse appeared to have been emptied, and George's wallet was found on the floor near his body with his back pocket slashed open.
The investigation quickly focused on family members, as it was known the Peacocks did not trust banks and kept a significant amount of cash in their home. About two weeks after the murders, their son-in-law, Michael Anthony Louise, became a suspect. Louise, who was married to one of the Peacocks' daughters, had driven to Vermont with his wife around the time of the murders, but in a rental car rather than his own tan 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity, which witnesses had reported seeing near the Peacock's home. Investigators developed circumstantial evidence against Louise but could not establish a definitive link. A small spot of blood found on the floor mat of his car was tested, but the DNA technology of the time yielded inconclusive results.
For over three decades, the case remained cold, a lingering mystery in the small Vermont town. However, with advancements in forensic science, the case was reopened. In May 2020, the blood sample from Louise's car was retested, and the results confirmed a DNA match to George Peacock. This breakthrough provided the conclusive evidence that had been missing for 33 years.
In October 2022, at the age of 79, Michael Anthony Louise was arrested at his home in Syracuse, New York, and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Due to his deteriorating health, Louise was later released from custody to a rehabilitation facility under home detention while awaiting trial.
