After 25 Years, She Finally Has a Name, She Was Finally Identified as Rea Rasmussen.

After 25 Years, She Finally Has a Name

For decades, the mystery of a little girl discovered in a barrel in the woods of New Hampshire haunted investigators and the community. Known only as “the middle child,” she had no name, no story, and no justice.

This week, after 25 years of questions, she was finally identified as Rea Rasmussen.

Rea was just 2–4 years old when her life was stolen. Her father was Terry Rasmussen, the notorious “Chameleon Killer,” who earned his name for living under multiple aliases while leaving behind a trail of murder and devastation. Rea’s mother, Pepper Reed, vanished in the 1970s and has never been found.

The breakthrough came through the use of genetic genealogy, combined with decades of detective work. Investigators painstakingly pieced together DNA evidence, family connections, and public records until the truth could no longer remain hidden.

The case is part of the infamous Bear Brook murders, one of the most disturbing and complex true-crime cases in U.S. history. For years, the victims lay nameless, buried in barrels in a wooded area, while their killer evaded accountability.

Now, with Rea’s name revealed, she is no longer just “the middle child.” She is remembered as a daughter whose life was cut short but whose identity has finally been restored.

For 25 years, she was only a mystery. Today, she is remembered as Rea Rasmussen — proof that persistence and science can bring light to even the darkest tragedies.