DNA Evidence Helps Nab 'Ghostly' Vernon Burglary Suspect: Warrant

VERNON, CT — DNA evidence had led to a third-degree burglary charge in a case of trailer break-ins in Vernon, police said.

Jason Sheehan, 44, was arrested this week, police said.

The case dates back to Dec. 22, 2017, when Vernon police went to 76 Valley Falls Road, where two trailers, including one of "commercial grade" had been broken into, leaving tools and a car battery used to power internal lights inside one trailer missing, according to a warrant.

Video surveillance showed a burglar taking his time at the trailers, according to a warrant. It was in black-and-white, however, so the burglar appeared "ghost-like," according to a warrant.

The stolen items were valued at $450 and the metal hasps were cut on the trailers with damages totaling $150, a warrant states.

Enough DNA was collected to build a suspect profile that led detectives to the ghost, identified as Sheehan, who had 16 prior arrests, 11 of which are related to burglaries and larcenies, according to a warrant. Subsequent samples taken from Sheehan proved to be a match, according to a warrant.