Cold Case: Elizabeth Heath

If Regina Brown's disappearance was considered one of the most publicized unsolved cases in Newtown, Elizabeth Heath's death would be a close second, particularly after in a barn subfloor and her case went from being categorized as that of a missing person to a homicide.

The medical examiner ruled that Heath .

It was nearly 28 years ago that Heath disappeared, a few days after regarding divorce papers with which she was served. While police said they had an investigator working the case through the years, there were few leads, officials said.

That is until April 13, 2010 when the son of the couple who had purchased Heath's former residence decided he would rip up the floor in an old barn that had been converted into a living space, with the purposes of renovating the area into an apartment.

The man, Jordan Wright, , he noticed a hatch that would appear to lead to some drainage tank and when he went to investigate further – thinking there might be hidden treasures inside – he found Heath's remains inside trash bags, in addition to a mattress pad. Other bags contained bed sheets and pillow, according to what Wright told Patch.

The discovery of Heath's body, and the later declaration that the case was now considered a homicide, had all indications the police were narrowing in on solving the crime. Later that same month her remains were found, police served a search warrant on her ex-husband, John Heath, who was living in a rental with his new family in Bridgewater. His attorney at the time declined to comment.

Two years later, as of today, police said there are no changes to the status of the case and no arrests have been made.

Chief Michael Kehoe said that officers are coordinating with the State's Attorney on the case, and they are awaiting forensic lab tests on evidence investigators have taken into custody over the years.

"We're still actively pursuing any leads we can," Kehoe said, adding that part of solving a case is making sure authorities have enough probable cause to prosecute. "We periodically check in with the State Attorney's office."

Elizabeth Heath apparently had worked as a bookkeeper before marrying John Heath, then a painter, in a ceremony in Newtown in 1978, according to records. At the time, it was her first marriage, and John Heath's second.

Over the years, Heath's daughter, who was about 5-years-old when her mother died and who was raised by John Heath and his third wife before moving out of town, has declined to comment on the case.