SHEFFIELD, Vt. -
The unsolved murder of Pat O'Hagan may be close to being cracked.
The grandmother from Sheffield, Vermont was last seen in September 2010, her body was found in the woods about a month later, ten miles from her home. Since then, no one has been linked to the crime... until now.
22 year old Michael Norrie shocked police by confessing to part of the murder.
Friends of Pat O'Hagan are still skeptical, but are hopeful this will lead to some closure.
When Pat O'Hagan's long time friend, Beverly Frost picked up her Caledonian Record newspaper Thursday morning, and the headline read "Sheffield man Id'd as murder suspect," she was in disbelief that the two year long nightmare she's been living could soon be over.
"In some ways it's a relief, but it doesn't seem to be complete answers," Frost said.
Frost has her doubts that 22 year old Michael Norrie could be capable of such a horrific crime.
"He may be involved but I don't think he had the intelligence or the strength. The more I read, the more upset I get because it looks like a punk that's been in and out of trouble forever and ever, why weren't we protected from him?" Frost said.
Police say during one of many interviews with Norrie in 2010 and early 2011 about an unrelated stolen handgun charge, the man with the lengthy criminal record confessed to part of the murder. He then quickly quit cooperating and requested an attorney. Police say this case is a top priority.
"A 78 year old woman was abducted from her home, she was murdered and if it doesn't get any bigger or more important than this, I don't know what does," Major Ed Ledo of the Vermont State Police said.
Police won't say whether O'Hagan and Norrie knew each other, but are confident more details will be released soon.
"I believe that in the future we will have a successful resolution to it," Major Ledo said.
No one came to the door when I stopped by his dad's house Thursday. I did talk to a neighbor though, who's lived next door for years.
"He just had a lot of issues, but I didn't think he would do anything like that," Sara Molinaroli said.
A psychologist from the Bureau of Prisons diagnosed Michael Norrie with mild mental retardation, post traumatic stress disorder and other psychotic features, but says he is competent to stand trial. And even if Norrie is guilty, police have said since day one that more than one person is involved in Pat O'Hagan's murder.
