STURBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) - Authorities have identified the woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car in Maine last week after the driver killed himself during a traffic stop.
Maddilyn Burgess, 28, was found in the trunk of a Subaru driven by Gyrth Rutan, 34, of Sturbridge, according to a press release issued Monday by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
The episode unfolded late Thursday afternoon with a report of a car driven being driven erratically on Interstate 295 in Maine.
A state trooper followed the car off the interstate and into Gardiner, where Rutan stepped out and shot himself after being pulled over by the trooper. He died from a shotgun blast to the head, according to the state medical examiner.
Police then discovered Burgess in the trunk, the apparent victim of a murder.
Sturbridge police and Massachusetts State Police detectives began investigating after Maine State Police discovered Rutan resided at 5 Fairview Park Road in Sturbridge.
Police say they searched Rutan’s residence on Friday and discovered evidence of a crime scene at the address.
Burgess died of blunt force injuries, according to the medical examiner.
The investigation is ongoing.
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