Bedford Cold Case Sticks with Retired Police Chief

Nine months after his career began with the Bedford Police Department, David Bailey recalls a woman's body being found buried under brush in a wooded area off Kilton Road.

Forty years later, Bedford's long-time Police Chief is retiring, and the case remains unsolved.

Bailey vividly remembers the day, Oct. 6, 1971, when the 25- to 35-year-old's remains were discovered near what is now the on ramp to Route 101, off South River Road.

"My role at that time was limited, but they did a lot of work on it, state police and Bedford police, and they never identified her," said Bailey. "Nobody seems to be getting too far. They've done composites and mock-ups and all kinds of stuff to help identify this person, but nothing's panned out."

According to information provided by the New Hampshire Department of Justice's Cold Case Unit, forensic tests indicated the victim had died one- to three-months earlier.

Bailey said no cause of death was determined, though foul play, he added, was likely.

"Obviously it was suspicious because she was found under a pile of freshly cut brush," he said. "I remember them tracing it back to where (the brush) came from. I mean, they put in a lot of work back then, but nothing panned out."

In addition to her age, the body was determined to be that of a 61- to 65-inch tall Caucasian who likely had brown hair and was wearing a maroon pullover blouse with lace at the neck, short hip-hugger dungaree-type shorts, and size seven sandals.

Bailey said the department is actively working with a genealogist who specializes in identifying cold case victims.

"I remember back then we had people traveling here from the Midwest who thought it might be their daughter," he said. "It just sad to me that we can't identify this person who was around 30-years old ... where she's from, how did she end up there? I mean, it could be anything from a drug overdose to a homicide, we just don't know."

Bailey noted local and state police, with modern technology, would likely have a much better chance to solve the case had it occurred in recent years.

"You know, these cases are never closed until they're resolved. They can go on forever and ever, but of course the trail gets colder and colder," he said, adding he is also actively involved in another cold case involving the body of a missing person possibly being buried in town.

In large part to close the book on both mysteries, Bailey said he's likely to stay on with the department in a part-time capacity.

"Those are the two cases that have haunted me all these years," he said.

According to the NH DOJ's Web site, the Cold Case Unit was established in conjunction with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office to help solve roughly 120 cases in which killers have not been brought to justice.

The unit, which comprises three detectives and a prosecutor, was officially commissioned by Gov. John Lynch on July 29, 2009, when he signed House Bill 690 into law. Since that point, members of the unit have worked tirelessly to review and resolve unsolved homicides, suspicious deaths and missing person cases in which foul play is suspected.

Those with information on this case, or any other unsolved cases, are encouraged to fill out an online tip form, or contact the Cold Case Unit directly by calling 603-271-2663 or e-mailing coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.

For stories on cold cases in other New Hampshire Patch communities, click on the links below: