On January 11, 2018, a 19-year-old White/Caucasian male named Austin Colson was last seen alive. The South Royalton, Vermont resident had plans to collect scrap metal with a man named Richard Whitcomb Jr. When he didn't return, his family grew deeply concerned, describing his disappearance as highly out of character. A few days later, the utility trailer Colson was supposed to use was discovered abandoned in Sharon, partially filled with scrap metal.
This discovery marked a troubling turn in the search for the missing young man.
For months, his whereabouts remained a mystery. The search came to a grim conclusion on May 23, 2018, when his remains were found inside a dilapidated barn in Norwich. An autopsy later confirmed the tragic news that Austin Colson's death was a homicide, caused by multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The investigation into his disappearance then officially became a murder investigation.
The focus of the investigation quickly turned to Richard Whitcomb Jr., who was identified in federal court documents as a suspect in Colson's disappearance. Whitcomb, who had worked as a caretaker for the property where Colson's body was found, was believed to be the last person to have seen him alive. Investigators uncovered evidence that contradicted Whitcomb's account of his whereabouts on the day Colson vanished. Cellphone data showed Whitcomb was near the location where Colson's remains were found and where the abandoned trailer was located, despite his claims of being elsewhere. Furthermore, a witness whom Whitcomb claimed was with him denied his story and told police that Whitcomb had asked him to lie.
During the investigation, details emerged about a firearm and drug transactions between Whitcomb and Colson. Whitcomb, a previously convicted felon, admitted to police that he had given Colson a firearm as collateral in a cocaine deal. This admission led to federal charges against Whitcomb for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A search of his phone also revealed a query about how long gunshot residue lasts. While Richard Whitcomb Jr. was sentenced to 37 months in prison on the federal gun charge, no one has been formally charged with the murder of Austin Colson. The investigation into his death remains ongoing.
