Some crimes just stick in the collective memory of a town like a stain that won't wash out. For Danby, Vermont, that stain was the murder of George and Catherine Peacock. It happened in September 1989. For decades, it was the definition of a "cold case." People talked. They whispered. They looked at neighbors sideways. But for thirty-three years, there was just... nothing. No arrests. No justice. Just an old farmhouse and a lot of unanswered questions.
Then 2022 happened.
The breakthrough didn't come from some cinematic confession or a deathbed letter. It came from the slow, methodical grind of forensic science—specifically, DNA technology that didn't even exist when the Peacocks were killed. This isn't just a story about a crime; it’s a testament to the fact that time doesn't actually bury everything. Sometimes, it just waits for the science to catch up.
What Actually Happened in Danby?
Let's set the scene because it’s important. George Peacock was 76. Catherine was 73. They weren't exactly high-risk targets. They lived a quiet life in their home off Route 7. On September 17, 1989, they were found dead inside that home.
It wasn't a "clean" crime. It was brutal.
They had been stabbed multiple times. There was no sign of forced entry. This immediately suggested to investigators that the killer wasn't a random drifter who happened to be passing through the Green Mountains. It felt personal. Or, at the very least, it felt like someone who didn't need to break a window to get inside. When the police started looking at the inner circle, one name kept popping up: Michael Sullivan.
The Prime Suspect Who Walked Free
Michael Sullivan was the Peacocks' son-in-law. From the jump, investigators were suspicious. It’s a cliché in true crime because it’s usually true—the family is the first place you look. Sullivan had been a person of interest since the week of the murders. There was circumstantial evidence, sure. There were motives discussed in hushed tones. But in 1989, "circumstantial" didn't get you a conviction in a double homicide.
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Basically, the police had a hunch but no smoking gun.
They found a bloodstain in Sullivan’s car. Back then, they could tell it was blood. They could even tell it matched the blood type of the victims. But guess what? A lot of people have the same blood type. It wasn't the "fingerprint" they needed to put him behind bars. Without a definitive link, the case went cold. Sullivan moved on with his life. He moved to New Hampshire. He lived decades as a free man while the community in Danby wondered if a killer was walking among them.
The 2022 Breakthrough and the Power of DNA
Fast forward to the 2020s. Vermont State Police hadn't forgotten the murder of George and Catherine Peacock. They have a dedicated Cold Case Unit for a reason. In 2020, they decided to take another look at that bloodstain from Sullivan’s 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity.
Science had changed.
We’re talking about Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) testing and advanced DNA profiling. They weren't just looking at blood types anymore. They were looking at the very blueprint of life. In May 2022, the lab results came back. The DNA in that car didn't just "match the type" of George Peacock. It was George Peacock.
That was the "gotcha" moment thirty years in the making.
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Why did it take so long?
Honestly, the tech just wasn't there. People often ask why cold cases suddenly break open. It’s rarely because a new witness comes forward. It’s almost always because a piece of hair, a drop of blood, or a skin cell was preserved well enough to be tested by machines that can see things 1980s scientists couldn't even dream of.
- The bloodstain was tiny.
- Previous testing methods would have destroyed the sample.
- Vermont investigators had to wait for the exact right moment when the tech was sensitive enough to use the sample without ruining it.
The Arrest of Michael Sullivan
In October 2022, Michael Sullivan was finally arrested. He was 71 years old by then. He was picked up in Gulfport, Mississippi, where he had been living. Imagine that. You spend over three decades thinking you got away with it. You’ve aged, you’ve moved, you’ve probably convinced yourself the danger is gone. Then, the past shows up at your door in a uniform.
He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
The legal proceedings that followed were a whirlwind of motions and hearings. For the family of George and Catherine, it was a bittersweet moment. Many of the people who knew the Peacocks best were already gone. That’s the tragedy of cold cases—justice often arrives after the people who craved it most have passed away.
Misconceptions About the Peacock Case
One thing people get wrong is thinking there was a "secret" witness. There wasn't. This case was solved by boring, meticulous paperwork and lab work. It wasn't a "whodunnit" with a shocking twist. The police knew who they wanted for thirty years. They just couldn't prove it.
Another misconception? That the case is "simple" now that there's DNA. Defense attorneys are paid to find holes. They argued about how the DNA got there. They questioned the chain of custody of the evidence from 1989. When a piece of evidence sits in a locker for three decades, you bet your life a lawyer is going to ask if it was contaminated.
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The Nuance of Vermont Law
Vermont is a small state. The legal community is tight. This case put a massive spotlight on the Vermont State Police Cold Case Unit. It showed that they don't just let files gather dust. But it also highlighted the limitations of the system. If the DNA hadn't been found in that car, Sullivan likely would have never been charged. It shows how much we rely on physical evidence when memories fade and witnesses die off.
The Legacy of the Case
The murder of George and Catherine Peacock changed how Vermont handles cold cases. It served as a proof-of-concept for using new DNA tech on old samples.
It's a reminder that "cold" doesn't mean "closed."
For the town of Danby, the arrest brought a weird kind of peace. It confirmed what many had suspected for years. It closed a loop. But it also served as a grim reminder of how long a person can live a "normal" life after doing something horrific.
Actionable Insights for Following Cold Cases
If you are interested in the resolution of long-term unsolved crimes or want to understand how these cases move forward, here are the realities of the current landscape:
- Monitor State Cold Case Units: Most state police agencies now have dedicated pages or social media feeds specifically for cold cases. This is where the first word of a DNA breakthrough usually drops.
- Understand DNA Limitations: DNA isn't magic. It requires "reference samples." In the Peacock case, they needed the victims' DNA to compare against the stain in the car. If family members don't provide DNA or if samples aren't preserved, the tech is useless.
- Advocate for Testing: Many jurisdictions have backlogs of untested evidence. Supporting legislation that funds forensic labs is the most direct way to help solve cases like the Peacocks'.
- Check the Court Dockets: Once an arrest is made in a decades-old case, the legal battle is just beginning. Follow the Vermont Judiciary website for updates on the Sullivan trial and motions, as these cases often take years to reach a jury even after an arrest.
The resolution of this case proves that the clock never really stops ticking for investigators. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. While George and Catherine Peacock can't come back, the fact that their names are still being spoken in a courtroom means they haven't been forgotten.
Stay updated on the official Vermont State Police press releases for the latest status on the Sullivan proceedings, as legal delays are common in cases with such extensive historical evidence.