Tragic Kidnapping and Murder of Maryann Measles

A group of eight individuals conspired in a horrifying act that resulted in the kidnapping, gang rape, and eventual murder of 13-year-old Maryann Measles, whose body remained undiscovered in a river for nine months.

Maryann was last seen on October 19, 1997, abducted from a supermarket parking lot by five men and three women, people she had thought were her friends. At that time, she was sitting in the car while her mother was running errands.

The young girl faced unimaginable torment just before her tragic end, as detailed in a recent episode of Investigation Discovery’s series, A Killer Among Friends. Following her abduction, it took years for her family to learn the full circumstances surrounding her death and the identities of her killers. This article delves into the senseless brutality of the crime.

Taken from her mother’s car, Maryann was transported to River Road in New Milford, Connecticut. There, her attackers—Keith Foster, Dorothy Hallas, Maggie Mae Bennett, Alan Walter, Jeffrey Boyette, Ronald Rajcok, Deaneric Dupas, and June Segar—began to violently assault her.

The three women involved harbored anger toward Maryann for her sexual encounters with their boyfriends, despite her being a victim of statutory rape. Even though she managed to escape and sought help, Segar pursued her and brought her back to her captors.

In a chilling recount, a friend named Scott shared how the news of Maryann’s death haunted him: “Them beating on her and raping her and holding her under the water until the bubbles stopped… that stays with me.” Another friend, Donna, expressed deep sorrow for not being there to help Maryann when she needed it most.

Before her life was cut short, Maryann began associating with this older group of friends. She later confided in her mother about being raped by some of the men in the group, including Walter and Foster. When her mother brought her to the police to report the incidents, a formal report was filed against only Walter.

Although they intended to take action against Foster, the group plotted to silence Maryann because of her revelations, which she had shared in confidence with June.

Maryann’s body was discovered in Lake Lillinonah in Connecticut nine months after her murder, yet meaningful progress in the investigation took years. In the summer of 2001, law enforcement offered a $50,000 reward for information to help resolve the case.

In 2005, Segar, aiming for the reward, eventually led police to crucial evidence—Maryann’s clothes found in an abandoned washing machine in the woods. Segar’s cooperation revealed the involvement of the eight individuals and pointed to Walter as the mastermind behind the crime.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Measles’s friend Ashleigh expressed disbelief that someone she considered a friend was plotting to take her life. Another friend, Scott, noted the shock of realizing that he had spent time with murderers without knowing their true nature.

After the murder, Walter violated Maryann’s body before it was wrapped in a blanket, chained, and thrown into the lake. Foster alone faced trial, where he was sentenced to 110 years in prison.

Walter was found guilty of several serious charges, including felony murder and sexual assault, and received a 60-year sentence. Other sentences varied, with Boyette sentenced to 50 years, Dupas to 47 years, Rajcok to 36 years, Segar to 30 years, Hallas to 25 years, and Bennett to 19 years due to a plea deal.

As of now, only one of the eight perpetrators has been released—Bennett, who testified that multiple boys raped Maryann before her death. Discussing the impact of the murder, Maryann’s younger sister poignantly remarked, “Two of the guys would have got 18 months for statutory rape, so instead they ended her life and ruined all of ours forever.” She emphasized the lasting effects of living with the knowledge of such horrific acts.