For the first time since June 2011, the community knows what happened to Bill and Lorraine Currier, the Essex, Vt., couple seemed to have vanished. During a news conference Monday, the Vermont U.S. Attorney's Office described the details of their death.
"Bill and Lorraine Currier were abducted from their home by Israel Keyes and subsequently murdered by him," said Chittenden County State's Attorney TJ Donovan.
For more than an hour, law enforcement provided information about the Essex, Vt., couple. Prosecutors say they were killed by Keyes, who was found dead Sunday in an Alaskan jail where he was being held for another murder case.
Officials described how it all started. In June 2011, Keyes took a flight from Alaska to Chicago and rented a car to come to Vermont.
Prosecutors say when Keyes arrived in Essex, he stayed at Handy Suites on Susie Wilson Road. That's where he hatched his plan to kill someone.
He didn't know the Curriers, but investigators say they fit his criteria. They were a couple without any kids or dogs, and lived in a home that didn't have a security system.
On June 8, Keyes engaged in what investigators call a blitz attack. Keyes tied them up, and asked them for their purse, cell phones, and gun.
Prosecutors say he moved them from their home to an abandoned home on Main Street.
Prosecutors say while at the abandoned home, both nearly escaped; Bill from the basement and Lorraine from their car, which was parked outside.
"During this time, Bill Currier repeatedly yelled, ‘where is my wife?'" Donovan explained.
Unfortunately neither prevailed. Keyes shot Bill in the head, and sexually assaulted Lorraine before strangling her.
"Though confronted with death Bill and Lorraine Currier showed extraordinary bravery and courage and extreme dedication and love to each other and they fought to the end," Donovan said.
Keyes eventually stuffed both of their bodies in bags in the basement.
