Helle Crafts had forewarned those close to her about the dangerous nature of her abusive spouse, but her caution went unheeded.
Richard Crafts, a deceitful and violent individual, had a history of physical abuse, dishonesty about having cancer, and a substantial collection of firearms at home. Additionally, his infidelity was the final straw for Helle.
When Helle, aged 39, initiated divorce proceedings against Richard, she courageously informed her legal representatives: “If anything happens to me, do not consider it accidental.” Shortly after, she mysteriously disappeared.
On November 18, 1986, upon her return to Connecticut from a flight originating in Frankfurt, Germany, she vanished without a trace.
Her last known words were reportedly a casual comment to a colleague who dropped her off, saying with a sigh, “Richard’s home.”
It took weeks before Helle’s disappearance was officially reported by her friend and fellow crew member, Rita Buonanno. Upon questioning, Richard, a former pilot and part-time police officer, provided inconsistent alibis and seemed unconcerned about his wife’s whereabouts.
The absence of Helle’s body hindered immediate legal action, but law enforcement persisted in their inquiries. Eventually, a disturbing piece of evidence emerged.
Prior to Helle’s disappearance, Richard rented a U-Haul truck and a 1,200-kilogram wood chipper under the guise of needing it for tree removal on his property.
A significant discovery followed when a local highways worker, Joseph Heinz, recounted seeing Richard near Lake Zoar at 3 am with a wood chipper attached to his vehicle during a night shift.
Authorities investigating the scene found various human remains, including blonde hair, body parts, bone fragments, and fabric from women’s undergarments, along with a mailing label bearing Helle Crafts’ name. A chainsaw with blonde hair entangled in its chain was also recovered from the nearby river.
Based on the evidence, Helle was declared deceased, and Richard was arrested for her murder. Despite the challenge of proving the crime without a body, prosecutors pursued the case.
After two trials, Richard was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison for Helle’s murder. This landmark case marked the first instance of a murder conviction without a body in Connecticut.
In 2020, Richard Crafts, now 82 years old, was granted early release for good behavior after serving 30 years of his 50-year sentence.
