Plainfield Man Charged With Illegally Disposing Of Woman’s Body: Police

PLAINFIELD, CT — A local man was arrested Thursday on accusations that he hid a woman’s body in a wooded area in Thompson, state police said.

Police charged Vendetta Robinson, 44, of Plainfield, on a warrant with illegal disposal of a human body, illegal removal of a human body, and tampering with physical evidence.

Robinson’s arrest stems from the discovery in October 2024 of skeletal human remains in the woods about 100 feet off Lowell Davis Road in Thompson. A large rock concealed any view of the remains from the roadway, and police concluded they were deliberately hidden.

Through DNA, investigators in late 2024 identified the remains as belonging to 33-year-old Plainfield resident Alicia Balderston. She had been reported missing in 2023, with the last known contact with her alive dating back to March 2023.

An autopsy report listed the cause and manner of Balderston’s death as “undetermined.” A toxicology report showed positive results for Ibuprofen, Theophylline, Delta-9 THC, Fentanyl, and Norfentanyl, documents show.

Police learned during their investigation that Balderston had packaged drugs for Robinson, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Police interviewed Robinson, who told investigators he had first met Balderston in early 2023, and he had hired her to package drugs for him at various hotels, as he was selling drugs at the time, the warrant shows.

He told police Balderston would package fentanyl, crack, cocaine, and marijuana for him.

Robinson told investigators that one day he went to the hotel room after not being there for a few days, and he found Balderston on the floor, deceased, the warrant shows. He told police the room was still filled with a large quantity of drugs she had been packaging for him.

Robinson told police he placed her body in a laundry bag, and wrapped all of her belongings into a sheet on the bed. He told investigators he then placed Balderston, her belongings, and the drugs into his truck, the warrant shows.

Police said Robinson admitted that he drove north on I-395 to a secluded road, parked and carried Balderston’s body into the woods, leaning her up against a rock.

“Robinson explained that he didn't want anyone to find the body,” the warrant states.

He told police he broke Balderston’s phone into pieces and disposed of her belongings in Dumpsters “because he didn't want the items to be located,” according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Robinson was released from custody on a $20,000 court set bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Danielson on Sept. 25.

A Facebook page, “Alicia, Where Are You?” was created following her disappearance.

Jessica Semola, Balderston’s cousin, who manages the Facebook page, spent months trying to find her after her disappearance. Now, she hopes Balderston gets the justice she deserves.

According to Semola, her cousin was a fun-loving person, known for her love of animals and “kind and loving heart.” While she may have “made poor decisions,” she was loved by her family and friends, Semola said.

“She was a person who deserved better,” Semola said.