GILL, Mass. — Police are searching for a "highly dangerous" man wanted for a murder in Plymouth after his vehicle was found abandoned on a bridge.
Seventy-six-year-old Vibeke Rasmussen was found Friday afternoon at her apartment in Plymouth stabbed 35 times to death. Police began investigating and neighbors said they heard a woman screaming near Rasmussen's apartment Thursday night around 11 p.m.
Through interviews, State and Plymouth Police determined Rasmussen's across the hall neighbor, 24-year-old Tyler Hagmaier, to be the suspect.
District Attorney Timothy Cruz said they believe Hagmaier fled to Western Massachusetts, where he has family. Friday night around 9:15 p.m., Hagmaier's car was found on the French King Bridge in Gill. Witnesses at the bridge said they heard a splash in the water around 10 p.m. The bridge is about 200 to 300 feet above the Connecticut River.
Boats searched the water below the bridge Friday and Saturday, but did not find anything. The water search continued Sunday. Police said they aren't sure if Hagmaier committed suicide. Hagmaier has had trouble with the law in the past and has made suicide attempts, said the district attorney.
"He has significant mental health issues as well as a significant criminal history of violence. I consider him to be a highly dangerous person," said Cruz.
Rasmussen was a college professor at Quincy College's Plymouth campus. Neighbors said that she had lived in the same apartment for several years, but she had moved in within the last two weeks. A former student said Rasmussen was a very sweet woman who had a lot of knowledge about life and the world.
Police said this was not a random act of violence, but they do not know why Hagmaier allegedly killed Rasmussen.
Anyone with any information should contact detectives with the Plymouth Police Department at (508) 830-4218.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
