Friend of murdered Newtown woman talks

Newtown, Connecticut (WTNH) - Why did her remains go un-noticed for so long and how did Elizabeth Heath die?

Police were on the scene again Friday on Poverty Hollow Road in Newtown where Heath's remains were found on Thursday.

The documents were filed for divorce just days before his wife disappeared back in 1984. John Heath cited irreconcilable differences and says he wanted custody of their daughter.

News Channel 8 spoke with a friend of Elizabeth Heath who says in the 80's the Heath seemed to live a happy hippie lifestyle, and that her friend would never up and leave.

"Oh yeah most definitely," said friend Barbara Delong "She had gardens, she had a little girl, she was very enrooted to where she was at to walk away from that sanctuary."

Poverty Hollow Road is now a crime scene. The couple had one daughter and according to Delong were at odds about having more children.

"I just think they went the wrong way, maybe he wanted more children," added Delong.

John Heath filed for divorce just days before his wife's disappearance. Delong was always surprised there was never much follow up on what happened to her.

"She was gone, she left," explained Delong. "That was it, she just left...left was the word that we just heard." "I kept saying left, but it wasn't in a position to pursue it."

She says John was a likeable guy, a painter who stored his materials in the barn-- where the remains were found.  All the while, Delong never suspected that John might be responsible for his wife's disappearance. "No, got to say as passive as he was, no I don't think single handedly, no," said Delong.

When asked if her opinion changed on John's connection to the Heath's disappearance, Delong said it is a possibility. "I think there is a possibility for sure," said Delong. "She wasn't abducted, she never walked off the property and she was found on the property."

Elizabeth Heath's sister spoke with News Channel 8 and she says they thought her sister lived the dream life on that farm. John Heath told her police were looking into her sisters disappearance and she took his word for it.

John Heath is a Vietnam veteran and he remarried shortly after his wife's disappearance. In recent years a family friend says he's been sick. News Channel 8 asked police if they still wanted to speak with Heath, but they still said "No comment."