Skull found in Cavendish identified as that of a man who disappeared in 2010

Vermont State Police announced Tuesday that a human skull discovered in Cavendish four years ago belonged to Bryan Gomez, who went missing in 2010. Investigators have not been able to determine the cause or manner. of the death of the 48-year-old man.

Gomez's skull was found by a hunter in the Cavendish woods in November 2020.

DNA from the skull was compared to the genetic profile of Gomez's siblings, and there was “strong support for a relationship,” state police said in a news release Tuesday.

Gomez, who lived in Cavendish, was reported missing on July 6, 2010, after his neighbor said he hadn't seen him for a few weeks. After the first report, Gomez's social worker requested welfare assistance because she hadn't heard from him in about a month.

According to state police, Gomez had “some mental health issues” and was known to hitchhike because he did not have a car.

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The identification of Gomez's skull is the second time in recent weeks that Vermont State Police have announced a development in an unsolved case. Earlier this month, the agency closed the 1982 case of an infant found dead in Northfield.

There are currently more than 80 unsolved homicide and missing persons cases in Vermont.

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