New homeowner discovers skeletal remains of three people in foreclosed Connecticut home

A new homeowner who purchased a foreclosed property in Burlington, Connecticut, made a grim discovery upon entering the residence for the first time: the skeletal remains of three people. Connecticut state police received a call at 4:46pm on Sunday from the new homeowner reporting the discovery.

According to the medical examiner's initial assessment, there is no indication of foul play or criminal activity, and the cause of death has not yet been determined. The identities of the three individuals remain unconfirmed. Property records show the home was originally purchased in 2019, and the foreclosure process commenced in August 2025. The Connecticut marshal Grant Carragher stated that the couple who bought the property in 2019 could not be reached during the foreclosure proceedings, and he believes the house had been abandoned for at least a year, with neighbors reporting they had not seen the residents in years.

The foreclosure auction was court-approved on March 23 and conducted on June 6, with the property sold in "as is" condition. Chris Thogmartin, the independent third-party attorney managing the sale, explained that it is not uncommon for foreclosure auction bidders to lack access to interior viewings. He noted that he typically sends letters to prospective bidders offering interior access but received no response in this case.

The discovery of the remains has raised serious legal questions about the validity of the sale. In a motion filed this week, Thogmartin noted that the bodies were "in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating that they had been there for some time," and questioned "the validity of the foreclosure judgment, depending upon the identify of the bodies and the time of death." Thogmartin has requested court direction on whether to return the winning bidder's $82,000 deposit and cancel the auction and closing proceedings.