Brianna Maitland
Brianna Maitland was 17 when she disappeared March 19, 2004, in Montgomery, Vermont after finishing her shift at the Black Lantern Inn restaurant around 11:20 PM. Her green 1988 Oldsmobile 88 was found the next day, backed into an abandoned home known as the “Old Dutchburn House,” which was approximately a mile away from her workplace. The car was partially lodged into the home and Brianna’s contact lenses, migraine medication, and two paychecks were still inside, suggesting her departure from the scene was sudden and unplanned.
Despite extensive searches and investigations, Brianna has not been found, and no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance. Brianna disappeared just six weeks after, and only 90 miles north of Maura Murray. The proximity of the two disappearances and the eerily similar circumstances surrounding their abandoned vehicles has led many to speculate that the cases are related. However law enforcement has maintained that they have no reason to believe the two are connected.
Several years ago, the Vermont State Police identified a DNA match with an item that was located near Brianna’s car. The lab analyzed DNA samples from 11 individuals and ultimately pinpointed a single match to one person. However, this alone was neither sufficient to deem the individual a suspect, nor was it enough to make an arrest.
On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance on March 19, 2024, the FBI and the Vermont State Police announced they would be offering a reward of up to $40,000 for information that may lead to finding Brianna. This is in addition to the $5000 her father, Bruce Maitland, has already offered.
The Maitland family administers a Facebook page and asks that anyone with any information related to Brianna’s disappearance not hesitate to contact investigators or their family directly through the Facebook page.
Information may be submitted to Major Dan Trudeau at (802) 241-5360 or daniel.trudeau@vermont.gov at the Vermont State Police. Tips may also be submitted anonymously at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit, or by texting keyword VTIPS to 274637 (CRIMES).