A Connecticut man who purchased a four-bedroom home at a foreclosure auction for $525,000 made a gruesome discovery when he entered the property: three skeletons. The home, located in the affluent Burlington suburb about 20 miles west of Hartford, had a fair market value of $820,000 according to court records, making Edward Marchion's winning bid seem like a bargain. However, the interior revealed the remains of the previous homeowner, Sally Anne Cash, 54, her son Brian Cash, 23, and a third unidentified individual.
Foreclosure Auction Rules Prevented Interior Inspection
Prospective buyers at foreclosure auctions are typically not allowed to inspect the interior of properties before bidding. This “buyer beware” policy meant Marchion had only seen the exterior and public records before placing his bid. The bank had foreclosed on the property after the Cashes stopped making their $3,000 monthly mortgage payments in late 2024. A foreclosure judgment was issued in March, and the auction took place on June 8.
Christopher Thogmartin, the lawyer overseeing the auction, told the Wall Street Journal that he assumed the property was abandoned due to its overgrown lawn. He found it odd that anyone would walk away from a home on more than two acres worth at least twice the remaining mortgage. When he visited weeks before the auction, two new signs reading “Keep out” and “private property” had appeared, preventing him from entering the property.
Discovery of Skeletons and Investigation
After winning the auction, Marchion entered the home and found three skeletons. Connecticut State Police described the remains as “skeletal.” Two were identified as Sally Anne and Brian Cash; the third is undergoing DNA testing. There is no evidence of a crime, and police say there is no threat to the public. The cause and time of death remain unknown. The Burlington Volunteer Fire Department tested for gas and carbon monoxide leaks, with negative results.
Marchion paid an $82,000 deposit and has asked the courts to delay closing until the police investigation is complete. A hearing was scheduled for July 20. The mystery of who placed the signs and how the Cashes died remains unsolved.
