Missing 82-year-old woman found dead in woods near her home, person of interest in custody

ST. ALBANS, Vt. (WCAX/Gray News) – A 23-year-old person of interest is in custody on unrelated charges after police found the body of a missing 82-year-old woman in the woods in Vermont.

11:49 26/07/2024

Roberta Martin, 82, was last heard from by her family on July 16, and she was reported missing on July 17.

Troopers and community members spent days looking for Martin around the area of her home on Butternut Hollow Road in Enosburgh, Vermont.

Her body was found Sunday in a wooded area not far from her home, and Vermont State Police confirmed.

Police also confirmed the case is a homicide investigation; however, the medical examiner’s office said the cause and manner of death are still pending.

Police interviewed numerous people as they investigated, and one of the people officers wanted to speak with was Darren Martell, 23.

It’s unclear why police wanted to interview Martell or what connection he had to Martin, if any.

Officers said he was a “person of interest” but did not call him a suspect in the case.

Martell was located Monday in a wooded area near St. Albans Town School. When detectives tried to approach him, they say they found him masturbating near a public walking path. He ran into the woods when approached by detectives and the school went into lockdown.

Martell was eventually located and arrested on a lewd and lascivious conduct charge.

Martell pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday to the charge and is being held on $500 bail.