The Vermont Supreme Court issued a 14‑page opinion Friday directing the trial court to revisit its dismissal of the murder charge against Deven Moffitt. The case stems from the 2022 killing of Jessica Hildenbrandt, a Ballston Spa woman who vanished in 2019 while dating Moffitt.
Background of the case
Hildenbrandt was last heard from by her family in July 2019. In September 2019, a human jawbone was discovered in a gravel pit near Somerset Road in Searsburg. The Vermont Forensic Laboratory identified the remains as Hildenbrandt in June 2020 after a CODIS match, confirming the victim’s identity.
In June 2022, prosecutors charged Moffitt with second‑degree murder. He is currently serving a federal sentence for drug offenses, but he remains in custody on those charges, not on the murder accusation.
Trial court dismissal and appeal
A trial was scheduled for January 2025, but a week before the date, prosecutors admitted they had not completed DNA testing to definitively link the remains to Hildenbrandt. The court noted that the identification relied on a CODIS hit obtained several months earlier.
In January 2026, Moffitt’s defense filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge. The trial court granted the motion, prompting the state to appeal the decision. The Vermont Supreme Court’s ruling now requires the trial court to reassess whether the dismissal was legally justified.
Implications
The Supreme Court’s order does not overturn the murder charge but ensures that the lower court re‑examines the legal basis for dismissal. If the trial court finds the dismissal improper, the case will move forward toward trial, giving Hildenbrandt’s family a renewed opportunity for justice.
State officials have not yet commented on the next steps, but the appellate decision underscores the importance of thorough forensic verification in homicide prosecutions.
What’s next?
The trial court will schedule a hearing to evaluate the dismissal. Should the court uphold the original decision, the state may seek further appellate review. If the dismissal is reversed, Moffitt will face a new trial date, extending the legal process that began nearly four years ago.
Community members in Bennington and the broader Capital Region have followed the case closely, given the personal connection between the victim and the accused. The renewed legal focus reflects both the seriousness of the alleged crime and the state’s commitment to ensuring due process.
Original reporting: CBS 6 WRGB Albany (local) — read the source article.
