Winchendon sexual assault suspect spotted in Oregon

Bresnahan on list of Most Wanted fugitives in Mass.

By Owen Boss

SPRINGFIELD Ore. — Michael T. Bresnahan, who is wanted for allegedly terrorizing and sexually assaulting a 61-year-old woman after forcibly entering her home in Winchendon in 2007, was spotted last weekend in a store in Springfield, according to state police. According to a press release from the Massachusetts State Police, Mr. Bresnahan, who has been featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted,” was seen Saturday night purchasing camping equipment in a Wal-Mart in Springfield and was reportedly last seen hitchhiking in the northbound lane of Interstate 5 in Springfield. Although State Trooper Eric Benson realizes that having Mr. Bresnahan on the other side of the country makes finding him more difficult, he remains optimistic. “Certainly with interdepartment police cooperation we intend on locating Michael Bresnahan,” said Mr. Benson. “It will require more collaboration between law enforcement agencies, but it is certainly anything but impossible.” Mr. Benson said an active search for Mr. Bresnahan has begun in Oregon, but when dealing with someone who is possibly living in the woods, police need to wait for more information. “In order to go out into the woods with search dogs and helicopters you would need some pretty specific information before you can start,” said Mr. Benson. “On the ground search teams with dogs and everything else can be very time-consuming and labor-intensive.” Mr. Bresnahan is 5 feet 9 inches tall, approximately 160 pounds, white, with brown hair and blue eyes. He has several tattoos, including a woman’s head on his chest, a musical note on his wrist, a panther on his upper right arm, a rose-heart on his right forearm and an eagle on his left forearm. According to the release, investigators believe that Mr. Bresnahan has been frequenting truck stops and may be hitchhiking with truck drivers. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 8/7/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 186)