Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg and Attorney General John Formella have announced that the autopsy has been completed on the body of 75-year-old Vernon Hayford. The autopsy conducted by Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg determined that Hayford’s cause of death was a stab wound to the chest and the manner was homicide.

On March 3, 2024, 54-year-old Carrie Drake was charged with one count of Second-Degree Murder. She is also charged with being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon. Drake waived arraignment on these charges on March 4, 2024, and continued to be held without bail.