Her car was found backed into an abandoned barn, a hole punched through the wall. Her paychecks were still on the seat, uncashed.
Brianna Maitland, 17, disappeared after finishing her shift at the Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery, Vermont, on the night of March 19, 2004. More than 20 years later, she has never been found, and her case remains formally classified as active rather than cold.
A Short Drive That Never Ended
Brianna worked as a dishwasher at the Black Lantern Inn and left work between 11:20 p.m. and midnight, declining coworkers' invitation to stay for dinner because she was tired and had an early shift at her second job the next day. She was expected home in Sheldon, Vermont, where she lived with a friend. She never arrived. Her friend assumed she'd gone to her parents' house instead and didn't report her missing until March 23, four days later.
The Car in the Barn
Brianna's 1985 Oldsmobile was found the next day backed into the side of an abandoned barn about a mile from the restaurant, having punched a hole in the wall. Two of her uncashed paychecks sat on the front seat, along with her medication, contact lenses, driver's license, and makeup — the kind of things she wouldn't have left behind voluntarily. Investigators later came to believe the crash may have been staged. According to accounts revealed by a private investigator in 2025, a couple driving by around midnight reported seeing a tall, stocky man standing in front of the car's headlights, along with a gray car speeding off and braking abruptly nearby; separately, an ex-boyfriend who drove past the scene around 4 a.m. thought he recognized the vehicle but saw no one around it.
Possible Connections Considered and Ruled Out
Investigators looked into a possible connection between Brianna's case and the unrelated 2004 disappearance of Maura Murray in nearby New Hampshire, given surface similarities in how both cases began. The FBI and Vermont State Police ultimately concluded a connection was unlikely, though it was never entirely ruled out. In 2012, investigators also examined whether Brianna might have been a victim of serial killer Israel Keyes, but ruled that out as well.
A Troubled Few Weeks Beforehand
About three weeks before she disappeared, Brianna was reportedly attacked by a female acquaintance in front of witnesses and hospitalized for facial injuries and a concussion; she filed a criminal complaint that was still pending at the time of her disappearance. She had also just passed her GED exam the day she vanished and had mentioned plans to attend college. Her parents don't believe drugs played a role in what happened to her, though investigators have noted drug activity was common in the area at the time.
A DNA Match, Still No Answers
In March 2022, Vermont State Police, working with the Texas-based DNA lab Othram, announced they had identified the source of DNA recovered near where Brianna's car was found — DNA that matched one of 11 people previously tested in connection with the case. Investigators were careful to note this didn't mean they'd identified a suspect, and the person's identity has never been publicly released; police described them only as having been cooperative.
A Growing Reward
On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance in March 2024, the FBI and Vermont State Police announced a reward of up to $40,000 for information leading to Brianna's recovery. Officials have emphasized the case remains active, not cold, and continue to follow new leads as forensic technology advances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Brianna Maitland ever been found?
No. She remains missing, and her case is formally classified as active.
Did the 2022 DNA match identify a suspect?
No. Investigators identified the source of DNA found near the scene, but explicitly stated this didn't mean they'd identified a suspect, and no charges have been filed.
Is there still a reward for information?
Yes, up to $40,000, offered by the FBI and Vermont State Police since March 2024.