In May 2016, the peaceful streets of Green Bay, Wisconsin, became the backdrop for a chilling crime. Nicole Vanderheyden, a loving mother of three and a dedicated substitute teacher known for her zest for life, vanished after a night out with friends. This is a story of a tragic disappearance, a complex investigation riddled with twists and turns, and the fight for justice for a life cut tragically short.
Nicole Vanderheyden, a loving mother of three, tragically disappeared after a night out in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
When Nicole didn’t return home after her night out, her boyfriend, Douglas Detrie, with whom she shared a son, reported her missing. The initial hours of the investigation revealed that the couple had a disagreement that night, leading to Nicole leaving their group of friends.
Authorities began piecing together the events leading up to Nicole’s disappearance. Surveillance footage captured her leaving a local bar, the Sardine Can, but her trail ran cold after that. Doug, who had gone home to relieve the babysitter, was questioned. While he admitted to arguing with Nicole, he maintained his innocence.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the Sardine Can, the last place Nicole was seen before her disappearance.
The case took a devastating turn when a farmer made a gruesome discovery – a woman’s body lying in a field. The body, bearing over 200 bruises and signs of blunt force trauma and strangulation, was positively identified as Nicole Vanderheyden. The brutality of the crime shocked the community, and the investigation intensified.
The focus remained on Doug, particularly after a search of their home revealed blood in the garage and a footprint matching a sneaker found inside. However, DNA testing revealed the blood wasn’t Nicole’s. It belonged to an animal, likely from Doug’s previous turkey hunting trip.
Forensic teams investigated the crime scene where Nicole's body was discovered, searching for clues to lead them to her killer.
A crucial piece of evidence emerged – a lone sock found on Nicole’s body yielded DNA that matched George Burch, a 38-year-old recent transplant from Virginia. Burch had initially come to the attention of law enforcement due to a hit-and-run accident. He had denied involvement, even consenting to a phone search, confident it would clear his name. Ironically, the phone data placed him at Nicole’s residence and the field where her body was found.
George Burch's phone data placed him at key locations related to the crime, including Nicole's residence and the field where her body was discovered.
George Burch was arrested and charged with Nicole’s murder. The prosecution presented a strong case, highlighting the DNA evidence and the damning phone data. However, Burch maintained his innocence, offering a shockingly different version of events during his testimony.
Burch claimed he met Nicole at a bar, Richard Craniums, and they went back to his place. However, they ended up in the back seat of his car when his roommates were still awake. He alleged that while they were intimate, he was struck from behind and knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he claimed a stranger holding a gun forced him to put Nicole’s body in his vehicle and drive to the field. He said he managed to escape when they arrived at the field.
George Burch, whose DNA was found on Nicole's body, offered a shocking testimony during the trial, claiming he was forced to help dispose of her body by an unknown assailant.
The prosecution challenged Burch’s account, questioning why he never went to the police if he was a victim too. They argued his story was a desperate attempt to evade responsibility for a crime fueled by rage when Nicole refused his advances.
After three hours of deliberation, the jury delivered a guilty verdict, finding George Burch guilty of first-degree intentional homicide. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. While Burch appealed the verdict, his conviction was upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as the jury delivered the guilty verdict, finding George Burch responsible for Nicole Vanderheyden's murder.
The Nicole Vanderheyden murder case stands as a chilling reminder that even in the safety of our communities, danger can lurk. It’s a story of a life tragically cut short, a family left grappling with unimaginable grief, and the long, arduous fight for justice. While nothing can bring Nicole back, her memory lives on through her loved ones and the unwavering pursuit of justice that ensured her killer was held accountable.
