Police search Massachusetts pond near where man's body found in NH
Authorities won't say whether search connected to man's death
Authorities won't say whether search connected to man's death
Authorities won't say whether search connected to man's death
Police in Massachusetts were searching a pond in Ashburnham on Wednesday a few miles from where a man's body was found last week in New Hampshire.
The search was focused on a small pond on private property just off Packard Hill Road.
Officials with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said they were aware of the search, but they could not confirm whether it was related to the death of Brandon Chicklis, 20, of Westminster, Massachusetts.
Chicklis' body was found July 10 off Route 119 in Rindge. He was last seen June 23, when he told his family he was going to visit a relative in Windham.
The search location in Massachusetts is about 6 miles from where Chicklis' body was found. His car was found June 29 in the parking lot of a Hannaford supermarket in Rindge.
Neighbors said they were surprised by the police activity.
“I asked (an investigator), ‘Can I help you with something?’” said Jacob Bean. “He said, ‘Oh, where's your property line?’ And I (showed him where it is).”
Investigators were asking neighbors about what they may have seen.
“And (the investigator) said, he just said, ‘Have you seen a bunch of cars drive down here recently? Bunch of kids partying?’ And I said, ‘No.’”
Chicklis' death has been ruled a homicide, but police have not released the cause of death. They have asked that anyone with any knowledge of what Chicklis was doing from June 23-25, or who may have seen his vehicle, a gray Honda Civic with the Massachusetts license plate 7NA723, to contact state police at 603-358-3333.