The search for Aaron Pennington, who is wanted in connection with the death of his wife Breanne, is expected to continue today in the wooded area of Camp Collier near the Ashburnham-Gardner townline.
Pennington is wanted in connection with the shooting death of his wife, whose body was found in the couple’s Cherry Street home on Sunday. Breanne Pennington was the mother of the couple’s four children, who are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Family Service, and would have celebrated her 31st birthday Friday.
Investigators, who called off the search at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, asked for the public’s help locating recordings by surveillance and trail cameras in the area of the search.
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Camp Collier in Gardner is a heavily wood area
Police are focusing their search across a 175-acre target area.
Camp Collier is a 585-acre Scout camp in Gardner near the town line with Ashburnham. The area is owned by the Monadnock Trust.
In addition to Gardner and Ashburnnham police, the search is being conducted by members of the State Police Special Response Team, the State Police Tactical Operations Response Team, the Violent Fugitives Apprehension Section and state police K9 units.
Police ask for the public’s help finding surveillance camera video of the area
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said investigators wanted residents who may have trail cameras or any type of surveillance cameras in the area to contact police.
“It’s incredible how often that these tips help us solve crimes, find people – so, we’re asking the public for all of their help,” Early said Tuesday afternoon.
Gardner Police Chief Eric McAvene said investigators were specifically interested in any footage recorded between the Old County Road area in Ashburnham and Rt. 101.
Police and Early also to residents not to search for Pennington themselves as he is considered “armed and dangerous.”
Aaron Pennington’s car was found Monday near Camp Collier in Gardner
Pennington’s car was discovered about 1,500 feet off Kelton Street by a bowhunter on Monday and reported to police about 5 p.m., according to Early.
“Thank God that hunter – I don’t know when or where we might have found that car, but there was a bowhunter going through the area and he found the vehicle and he immediately notified the Gardner police,” Early said, adding that the vehicle was not visible from the road.
The find triggered a five-hour search in the area of Kelton, Wheeler, Raymond, and Stone streets on Monday. The shelter-in-place was lifted about 9:50 p.m. as police called off the search for the night.
What should you do if you see Aaron Pennington or have video footage to show them?
“Anybody who hunts these areas, could you check your trail cams to see if anything came across?” McAvene said.
Anyone who sees Pennington should call the Gardner Police Department at 978-632-5600 or the Massachusetts State Police at 508-829-8326. Police are warning the public not to approach Pennington as he is considered armed and dangerous.
Description of Aaron Pennington
Pennington, 33, of Gardner, is described by the Worcester DA as a white man with blond hair, blue eyes. He is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and approximately 175 pounds.
Pennington is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Early said investigators were in contact with the military to find out what kind of outdoor survival training Pennington, an Air Force veteran, might have undergone while in the service.
“That is part of the equation,” he said.
Who is investigating?
The investigation is ongoing by state police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Gardner Police Department.