NORWICH — The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death on Douglas Hill Road.
On Monday afternoon, police identified the deceased woman as Noel A. Neely, an 82-year-old resident of 48 Douglas Hill Road, where her body was found on Saturday morning.
Police responded to a report of a deceased woman at the Douglas Hill Road address at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, according to a police news release Saturday night. Upon arrival, they found Neely dead inside the home.
“Initial investigation indicates the woman’s death occurred under potentially suspicious circumstances,” the release said. “Everyone associated with this matter is accounted for, and there is no identified danger to the public.”
Neely’s body will be brought to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine cause and manner of her death.
Town property records indicate the home on Douglas Hill Road belongs to Donald and Noel Neely.
A call on Monday to Donald Neely’s orthodontic practice, Hanover Orthodontics, went straight to a voicemail recording, which says, “the office is temporarily closed due to a family medical emergency.”
Noel Neely served three terms in the Vermont House in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She also worked as the office manager in her husband’s practice, according to the practice’s website.
On Monday morning, there was no police presence around 48 Douglas Hill Road. No trespassing signs are posted on several trees at the address. Efforts to speak to neighbors living in the two other houses on the hill were not successful Monday.
In addition to members of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team, Field Force Division and Victim Services Unit and the Norwich Police Department are assisting in the investigation.
Efforts to reach Vermont State Police and Norwich Police were not immediately successful on Monday.
The Monday news release announcing the name of the victim also said the “case remains open and active” and state police are working with the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office “regarding the details and circumstances of the case.”
Police ask that those with relevant information call the Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933 or submit an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. Monday.
