Left & Center: Pennington, circa 1996; Right: Progressed to age 26 (circa 2007)

April Dawn Pennington
Missing since May 29, 1996 from Montville, New London County, Connecticut
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

• Date Of Birth: August 22, 1980
• Age at Time of Disappearance: 15 years old
• Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance:5'2"; 100 lbs.
• Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; hazel or green eyes.
• Marks, Scars: She has a tan birthmark on her right tricep.
• Dentals: Available
• Other: Medical records available

Circumstances of Disappearance
Pennington was last seen leaving her home in the middle of the night in Montville, Connecticut on May 29, 1996. She possibly had a black duffel bag. She was carrying no money or extra clothing. She left to meet with friends, she ran down the street to a waiting pickup truck. A classmate picked her up with his friend, a 30-year-old man awaiting trial for raping a teenager, a crime for which he would be convicted. They sat in the woods drinking beer and smoking marijuana. Several witnesses said April was raped and murdered that night, and that her body was buried in a dry well near where the man lived. Wells were dug up and ponds searched but April has not been found.

George Leniart, 42, from Montville, has been charged with murder and three counts of capital felony in the death of April Pennington. Leniart told a cellmate that he choked the girl during sex and then realized she was dead. The affidavit says Leniart told his cellmate he transported the body to a fishing boat in Rhode Island, chopped up her body and dumped her in the water.

In 1997, Leniart was convicted of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor in the 1995 sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. In 2002 he was convicted of risk of injury to a minor and violation of probation when he was discovered with a 14-year-old girl in a wooded area in Preston. He was still in prison last year when he was charged last year with second-degree sexual assault, illegal sale of liquor to a minor and sale of a controlled substance in connection with the sexual assault of a 17-year-old boy.

Leniart was a suspect in April’s disappearance from the beginning. The other person with Leniart the night April disappeared was Patrick “PJ” Allain. Allain is in prison on unrelated rape and kidnapping charges.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Connecticut State Police
Det. Martin Graham
860-886-6603

Agency Case Number: NCMC819031

NCIC Number: M-933208052
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Connecticut State Police
Norwich Bulletin
WTIC News