A Connecticut homebuyer purchased a foreclosed house at auction “as is.” Days later, the buyer made a discovery that turned the property sale into a state police investigation.
Connecticut State Police said troopers responded to 7 Stanwich Lane in Burlington at 4:46 p.m. on June 14 after the new buyer reported finding skeletal remains inside the structure.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has identified two of the three people as Sally Ann Cash and her son, Brian Cash. Their causes of death were still pending, and the third person had not yet been identified.
State police said there was no indication of anything suspicious, no indication of a criminal aspect, and no danger to the public. Detectives from the Western District Major Crime Unit are still investigating.
The House Had Been Sold at Foreclosure Auction
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CT Insider reported that the home had been sold at a foreclosure auction on June 6, eight days before the remains were found.
The home had been owned by Paul and Sally Anne Cash, according to court records cited by CT Insider. The mortgage had not been paid since December 2024, and utilities had reportedly been shut off for months.
The property was difficult to evaluate before the sale. CT Insider reported that overgrown vegetation blocked access, and signs reading “Keep Out” and “Owner Occupied Premises” were posted by the time of the auction.
Two People Have Been Identified
Connecticut State Police said Brian Cash and Sally Ann Cash were identified as son and mother. Brian’s date of birth was listed as July 1, 2003, and Sally Ann Cash’s date of birth was listed as Jan. 26, 1972.
The third person remained unidentified as of the latest state police update. The medical examiner’s office had not determined the causes of death for Brian Cash or Sally Ann Cash.
CT Insider reported that Sally Cash owned the home with her husband, Paul, and that Brian was the couple’s son, according to a relative.
The Foreclosure Sale Raised New Questions
The discovery may affect what happens next with the foreclosure sale. CT Insider reported that attorney Christopher H. Thogmartin, who was appointed to conduct the auction, filed a motion asking the court for guidance after the remains were found.
Thogmartin said the timeline and identities could raise questions about the validity of the foreclosure judgment. A judge later directed him to follow the usual procedures and deadlines unless the court ordered otherwise.
WFSB reported that the four-bedroom home was built in 2002, sits on a little more than two acres, and had an unkept lawn with shrubs, weeds, and tall grass blocking parts of the porch.
“As Is” Does Not Remove the Need for Due Diligence
An “as is” auction can leave a buyer responsible for many visible and hidden problems after purchase. A neglected or inaccessible home can carry additional uncertainty around occupancy, interior hazards, utilities, title records, liens, structural damage, mold, pests, abandoned belongings, and legal access.
Buyers looking at foreclosures should review court records, confirm sale terms, ask what interior access is allowed, check utility status, look for occupancy warnings, and use qualified inspectors or legal help when a property cannot be fully evaluated before bidding.
If a newly purchased property has signs of occupancy, strong odors, unsafe conditions, blocked access, structural hazards, or anything that suggests people may be inside, the first call should be to authorities rather than entering alone.