GILL — The body recovered from the Connecticut River in Gill Monday has been identified as 24-year-old murder suspect Tyler Hagmaier, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

Hagmaier, of Plymouth, is a former Montague resident. He abandoned his car on the French King Bridge, found on May 6, and police wondered whether the man jumped from the 140-foot bridge into the Connecticut River or left his car behind as a decoy as he fled on foot. Hagmaier is the suspect in the stabbing death of his 76-year-old neighbor, Quincy College professor Vibeke Rasmussen.

Hagmaier’s body was discovered half a mile downstream from the French King Bridge, a spot known for suicide attempts, by the 10-year-old daughter of Gill Selectboard Chairman Greg Snedeker on Monday. Snedeker previously told The Recorder his daughter, Mia, saw the body near their dock at their home on a private way off of Route 2.

The body was identified as Hagmaier by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Wednesday.

Hagmaier’s mother, Heidi Flaherty of Montague, reached at home Wednesday said “We’re very sorry for the other family,” and went on to say her son was a good person. She declined further comment.

According to court documents, Hagmaier was also charged with stabbing a man in the chest with a 10-inch serrated kitchen knife at a Montague home about five years ago.

You can reach Aviva Luttrell at:
aluttrell@recorder.com 
or 413-772-0261, ext. 268
On Twitter, @AvivaLuttrell

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