Key facts
- Name: Denise Beaudin
- Age at disappearance: 23
- Last seen: November 1981
- Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Status: Still missing — NH DOJ Cold Case victim list: “Status: Missing Person,” “Suspect Identified”
- Investigating agency: Manchester Police Department (603-668-8711); New Hampshire Cold Case Unit
The boyfriend with many names
In November 1981, 23-year-old Denise Beaudin vanished in Manchester, New Hampshire. She left behind a six-month-old baby girl.
The man in her life at the time called himself Bob Evans. He was, investigators would learn decades later, actually Terry Rasmussen — a drifter with a trail of aliases and, eventually, a trail of bodies. Rasmussen died in prison in 2010, convicted of a 2002 murder in California, and has since been linked to multiple killings across the country, including the Bear Brook murders in New Hampshire.
The New Hampshire Department of Justice Cold Case Unit’s victim list carries Denise Beaudin with two entries that tell the whole story in miniature: “Status: Missing Person.” “Suspect Identified.” The suspect is Rasmussen. He is dead. Denise is still missing.
Her daughter — the six-month-old she left behind — grew up and learned as an adult who her mother was and what likely happened to her. DNA helped confirm the family connection. But Denise herself, her remains, have never been found.
The investigation
The Manchester Police Department (603-668-8711) and the NH Cold Case Unit continue to carry Denise as a missing person. The “suspect identified” designation is as close to resolution as the case has come: investigators believe they know who was responsible, but without remains, the family has no grave and the case has no closure.
Rasmussen’s confirmed and suspected victims span states and decades. He died in 2010 without ever being charged in Denise’s disappearance — and without, as far as the public record shows, saying where she is.
Theories: what might have happened
Killed by Terry Rasmussen. This is not speculation in the ordinary sense: the state’s Cold Case Unit lists a suspect as identified, and that suspect is a convicted killer with a documented pattern of murdering women. What supports it: the official designation, Rasmussen’s history, the timing. What is missing: her remains, and with them, proof beyond the designation.
The remains are recoverable. Investigators have searched before; the hope is that someone who knew Rasmussen, or a future lead, points to a location. This is less a theory than the family’s standing hope.
Have information?
Contact the Manchester Police Department at (603) 668-8711 or the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at (603) 271-2663. In an emergency, dial 911.
Timeline
- 1958 (approx.) — Denise Beaudin is born.
- 1981 — Gives birth to a daughter.
- November 1981 — Vanishes in Manchester, New Hampshire, at age 23, leaving her six-month-old baby behind. Her boyfriend “Bob Evans” is actually Terry Rasmussen.
- 2002 — Rasmussen commits a murder in California; later convicted.
- 2010 — Terry Rasmussen dies in prison.
- 2010s — Investigators link Rasmussen to the Bear Brook murders and identify him as the suspect in Denise’s disappearance; DNA confirms her daughter’s identity.
- Today — Still missing. NH DOJ lists her as “Status: Missing Person,” “Suspect Identified.”
FAQ
Is Denise Beaudin still missing?
Yes. As of October 2026, Denise Beaudin has been missing for nearly 45 years. The NH Department of Justice still lists her as a missing person.
Was Denise Beaudin ever found?
No. Despite the identification of a suspect, Denise’s remains have never been found.
How old would Denise Beaudin be today?
She was 23 in November 1981, so she would be about 68 in 2026.
Who is the suspect in Denise Beaudin’s case?
The NH Cold Case Unit lists the suspect as identified: Terry Rasmussen, the drifter who called himself “Bob Evans” while dating Denise. Rasmussen, a convicted murderer linked to multiple killings including the Bear Brook murders, died in prison in 2010.
What happened to Denise Beaudin’s baby?
Her six-month-old daughter survived and grew up; as an adult she learned her mother’s story, and DNA confirmed the family connection.
What are the Bear Brook murders?
Four unidentified bodies found in barrels in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, NH (1985, 2000), later linked to Terry Rasmussen. The case was the subject of the hit podcast Bear Brook.
Sources
- Official / law enforcement: New Hampshire Department of Justice, Cold Case Unit victim list (“Status: Missing Person,” “Suspect Identified”); Manchester Police Department (603-668-8711).
- News: Boston Globe, New Hampshire Union Leader coverage of the Rasmussen investigation (retrieved Oct 2026).
- Reference: Wikipedia, “Terry Rasmussen” (retrieved Oct 2026).
- Media: Bear Brook podcast (NHPR); 20/20 and network coverage of the Rasmussen cases.
Found an error? Tell us via the About page and we will fix it promptly and note the change here. Last verified October 2026.