A family found their loved one, an engineer, dead under shocking circumstances in a charming Connecticut cottage he shared with his girlfriend.
Shane DeJohn, 53, was discovered deceased at his home in Cheshire on October 6, 2023. Reports indicate that when his sister, Robin van Ekelenburg, and other family members traveled from his hometown to see him, they sensed immediately that something was off.
“He didn’t look like he had a neck,” Van Ekelenburg shared. “We were unsure at the time, but it was clear that something wasn’t right. He seemed… well, headless, in a way. It was beyond explanation.”
Van Ekelenburg, now managing her brother’s estate, began gathering evidence to show that DeJohn’s death was not due to natural causes, as authorities initially suggested.
Her concerns were later validated with the findings from DeJohn’s autopsy.
Reports state that the cause of death was ruled as “cardiac arrhythmia following physical assault-related blunt head and neck injuries, along with pre-existing conditions.” The autopsy detailed multiple bruises, ear injuries, and bleeding in his brain and neck.
Ultimately, officials classified his death as a homicide.
Despite this determination, the family has been left without answers for what really transpired.
“At that moment, I understood something serious had occurred,” Van Ekelenburg recalled.
They sued DeJohn’s girlfriend, Natasha Vadas, in March, although they recently retracted the case to alter the complaint and include more parties.
Before DeJohn’s passing, Vadas had put their Cheshire home on the market, and the couple was preparing to relocate to Georgia after he received a job offer. On the night of his death, they celebrated with a real estate agent. He was found the next morning in the same outfit he wore during the outing.
Cheshire’s Police Chief Frederick J. Jotner indicated that an investigation followed the report of DeJohn’s death, with detectives working closely with state police and medical examiners.
Jotner mentioned the investigation involved numerous interviews and substantial forensic analysis but refrained from disclosing further information to maintain its integrity.
Van Ekelenburg lamented the lack of updates from investigators and noted the family sold the cottage in March, moving to North Carolina with her son, gathering only limited information from Vadas.
Though the family suspects foul play, they’ve chosen not to name whom they believe is responsible.
“I really can’t grasp what happened that night,” Van Ekelenburg said. “It feels like trying to assemble a puzzle without all the pieces. But it stands out that Shane was the only one harmed that evening.”
DeJohn’s family lawyer, Kenneth Kreiske, confirmed the lawsuit was retracted to include DeJohn’s daughter, Zoe, as a plaintiff, and another defendant was added, although Kreiske withheld their name.
As of late 2025, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing, now overseen by a New Haven law firm.
DeJohn, originally from San Jose, was a circuit board manufacturer who relocated to Connecticut in 2020 after accepting a new job. He was remembered for his strong work ethic and talents as a musician, known for writing and performing numerous songs at various fundraising events.
