Vermont Woman Allegedly Murdered Acquaintance, Burglarized Properties, Police Say

A woman is accused of killing an acquaintance and burglarizing multiple properties in Vermont, authorities said.

Cara L. Rodrigues, 31, was arrested on Aug. 9 and faces charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Emmy Bascom, 42, Vermont State Police said.

A day earlier, on Aug. 8, Rodrigues was with Bascom, and they were last seen together in Bascom’s Chevrolet Suburban, police said.

Around 6:30 p.m., a friend of Rodrigues phoned law enforcement after he found Bascom’s body in a log landing in Wardsboro.

At the time of the call, Vermont State Police said troopers already were responding to the area for a report of a burglary that had occurred around 15 minutes earlier.

“Surveillance images from that location identified Rodrigues as the individual who committed the burglary,” police said in a statement, adding a search for Rodrigues was unsuccessful but troopers did locate Bascom’s vehicle near where her body was found.

“Police collected evidence including bloody clothing and witness statements that connect Rodrigues to Bascom’s death,” police said.

A homeowner in the area called authorities around 9:20 p.m. to report that over two hours earlier he encountered “a woman he described as distraught who stated her first name was Cara,” police said.

According to officials, troopers continued checking buildings in the area for signs of forced entry, and around 11:30 p.m. located Rodrigues on a property “that appeared to have been broken into.”

Rodrigues was taken into custody and was being held without bail on two counts of burglary as well as the murder charge.

An autopsy determined Bascom died from multiple sharp-force injuries to the neck and torso.

“Detectives are continuing to investigate a motive for the killing, along with exactly when and where Bascom was killed,” police said.