The body of engineer Shane DeJongh was discovered at his girlfriend’s cottage with severe injuries following a confrontation the night before. Although investigators initially believed he died of natural causes, his family suspects foul play was involved, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
DeJongh, 53, was found dead on October 6, 2023, in a home owned by his girlfriend, Natasha Vadasz, in Cheshire, Connecticut. His sister, Robyn van Ekelenburg, traveled from California to see his body and noticed unsettling signs of injury. She described his neck as so swollen that it appeared he had “no neck” at all, prompting her to suspect something was amiss.
An autopsy later revealed that DeJongh suffered several head contusions, an abrasion on his left ear, and a brain bleed. He also had a hemorrhage in his neck and a fractured thyroid cartilage, according to the report. The coroner ruled his death a homicide, caused by “cardiac arrhythmia following a physical altercation with blunt injuries of the head and neck, complicating hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
In the two years following his death, DeJongh’s family has been left with more questions than answers. They filed a civil lawsuit against Vadasz in March, but it was withdrawn last week to include an additional defendant and plaintiff. According to the lawsuit, Vadasz had listed her Cheshire home for sale shortly before DeJongh’s death, raising further suspicions.
DeJongh and Vadasz had been planning to move to Georgia after DeJongh was offered a new job. On the night of his death, the couple celebrated with drinks with their realtor, but DeJongh was found in bed the next morning still dressed in the clothes he wore the previous evening. Initially, it was thought that he died of a heart attack, but the autopsy revealed the true cause of death, prompting the family to question Vadasz’s involvement.
“We don’t know what really happened that night,” van Ekelenburg said. “It’s like trying to put a puzzle together without all the pieces. But whatever the case is, Shane was the only one with injuries that night”, reported The Hartford Courant.
Vadasz sold her house in March 2024 and moved out of state, according to public property records. She has not been charged with any crime, and no arrests have been made in the case. However, Vadasz is named as a defendant in the civil suit filed by DeJongh’s family, which seeks both monetary and punitive damages.
The DeJongh family’s attorney, Kenneth Krayeske, confirmed that the lawsuit was withdrawn to include DeJongh’s daughter, Zoey, as a plaintiff. Another defendant was also added, but Krayeske has not disclosed their name.
The Cheshire Police Department continues its investigation into DeJongh’s death. Police Chief Frederick Jortner stated, “At this time, the incident remains an active and ongoing investigation under the direction of the State’s Attorney’s Office, Part A, New Haven.” No further details have been released to preserve the integrity of the investigation.