Family members of three unsolved homicides hope a new search in New Britain leads to answers and closure.
Police have been searching acres of woods behind a strip mall at 593 Hartford Road since April 21. Remains of three murdered women have previously been uncovered, and additional remains found last week are waiting for identification at the chief medical examiner's office.
"We want to find the rest of my mom because we don’t want to close the case until we have all of her remains so we could do a proper burial," said Tiffany Menard, whose mother, Mary Jane Menard, disappeared in 2003.
Investigators found the partial remains of 40-year-old Mary Jane Menard, along with those of Diane Cusack and Joyvaline Martinez, behind the New Britain strip mall in 2007. Police said all three disappeared in 2003 and believe the same person is responsible for their deaths.
Although they were discovered in 2007, it took until 2014 for DNA tests to identify Menard’s remains. The family allowed police to keep them temporarily to help with the investigation.
"We knew that there would be a sweep someday. We knew, you know, that it wasn’t over, that they weren't just going to leave us in limbo," said Mary Jane Menard's sister, Anna Santiago. "You hope that there are people out there that don’t forget that want answers just like you."
Menard was last seen going to buy cigarettes in Waterbury, according to her family.
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"She used to the light up the room. She was amazing with a beautiful voice," said Tiffany Menard.
The family hopes the new search brings some closure and justice.
"We will see her in heaven, you know, and be with her, and God knows that you know whoever did this they will have their day, you know. They will have their day," said Santiago.
Police expect the search to last about another week and at its conclusion will release more information about what they found.
