The chilling mystery surrounding the death of Trish Haynes, a 25-year-old woman whose body was discovered stuffed inside a washing machine at the bottom of a lake, remains unsolved eight years after her disappearance. Despite an anonymous tip that led police to her remains, no arrests have been made, leaving her family to continue their fight for justice.
The Disappearance and Discovery
Trish Haynes vanished in 2018 after abruptly cutting off all contact with her grandmother, Sandi, with whom she shared a close bond. She had recently moved in with two friends, and her grandmother grew concerned when communication became sporadic and guarded. Two months later, Sandi filed a missing person report with the Grafton Police Department in New Hampshire.
During the investigation, authorities received an anonymous tip directing them to search Grant's Pond. There, they uncovered a washer and dryer submerged underwater containing Haynes' remains. Police ruled her death a homicide but kept the discovery confidential for a year before publicly disclosing the murder. To this day, the case remains unsolved.
Family's Struggle for Answers
Haynes' cousin, Carey-Ann Wilson, 51, has been spearheading efforts to bring attention to the case. The family has received numerous tips but is now raising funds for a reward to encourage anyone with information to come forward. Wilson described the pain of losing her cousin in such a violent manner: "I was stunned, deeply saddened. I couldn't understand why anyone would hurt her, kill her - especially in the manner in which they did. To this day, I just don't get it."
Alarming Changes in Behavior
After Haynes moved in with an old friend in May 2018, her family noticed a drastic change in her communication. She ceased all contact with her grandmother, and her calls became infrequent and guarded. Wilson explained: "She was extremely close with her grandmother, Sandi, and with Trish's great aunt, Val. They spoke with her almost daily. So when the calls became infrequent, short, and guarded, it immediately felt out of character." Haynes eventually claimed her phone was broken and used a friend's phone, but communication continued to dwindle until mostly the friend was contacting the family.
Ongoing Fight for Justice
The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office did not publicly acknowledge Haynes' death until July 2019. Since then, no arrests have been made, and the case has seen no significant breakthroughs. Wilson expressed the family's frustration: "It's incredibly frustrating and painful. Time keeps moving forward, but for families like ours, part of you remains stuck in that unanswered space." She added: "I think one of the hardest things is knowing someone out there likely knows more than they've ever said. Meanwhile, our family has spent years carrying grief, unanswered questions, and the feeling that Trish's story still hasn't concluded."
Determined not to let Haynes be forgotten, the family continues to speak publicly, work with advocacy groups, and seek renewed attention to the case.
