Woman Who Died After Officer-Involved Shooting Was Homeless In Concord, Had Child Confiscated From Her: Docs

CONCORD, NH — An officer-involved shooting investigation in Bath started in Concord after a baby was taken from a member of the city's unhoused community by a court injunction, according to documents.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office reported Thursday night that a woman died after an officer-involved shooting in Bath. Law enforcement agencies around the state were searching for her and after a high-speed chase in the North Country, her vehicle was found at the intersection of Route 302 and Route 112, according to Michael Garrity, the director of communications for the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. Troopers and a local police officer attempted to contact Seto when, "police say, the female was armed with what appeared to be a handgun," he said.

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"During the interaction," Garrity said, "gunshots were fired, and the female was injured. She was transported to an area hospital where she has since been pronounced deceased."

Patch has confirmed the woman to be Jeanne Alice Seto, 35, a homeless woman located in Concord, based on court documents and police communications.

Spike trips were laid near the Route 302 and Route 112 intersection, where they stopped the 2012 Kia Forte she was driving. Seto reportedly expressed "suicidal ideations," a threat to kill the family member who took her daughter, or to die by cop, according to police communications.

Guardianship Transfer Requested, Approved

The court action that appeared to have triggered Seto was a guardianship request by a family member seeking conservatorship of her newborn baby girl.

A petition was filed Thursday in Haverhill Family Court in North Haverhill and the court granted temporary guardianship. A hearing was scheduled for Friday.

In the Case Summary, the petitioner received release authorization from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and also submitted a criminal record release and asset information. The underlying cause of action "arose in" Grafton County, the doc said.

The temporary guardianship, approved through Dec. 7, allowed supervised visitation by the girl's parents, a court document stated.

Concord Police Search For Seto

Hours after the child was transferred to Seto's family, police in Concord were requested to check on her welfare and search for her vehicle.

Officers checked several locations frequented by the city's unhoused population, including Concord Hospital, hotels, and other areas Seto and her husband were suspected of frequenting.

Police also met with her family members.

Around 6 p.m., police departments across the state, as well as the New Hampshire State Police, began communicating after hearing a report Seto had acquired a fully loaded Ruger 9 mm and was threatening a family member.

Concord dispatch said Seto's cellphone was pinged and was reportedly in Thornton. A Grafton police officer reported Seto was still in Concord, but they suggested the family seek protection orders.

"She made a comment that she was going to kill (the family member) and herself, and if she doesn't live, 'Oh well'," according to a Grafton dispatcher.

The tipster also said it sounded as if Seto was somewhere with a lot of background noise, like a highway, the dispatcher said.

Just before 6:30 p.m., a BOLO was issued mentioning Seto's information, the gun, that she was heading to Bath from Concord, as well as her desire to "get her baby back," according to the alert.

Around 6:30 p.m., Concord police heard a report Seto was involved in a pursuit with state police. The chase was quickly confirmed by Concord dispatch.

Just before 7 p.m., Grafton dispatch requested radio silence as state police chased Seto along Route 112 in Woodstock, accusing her of swerving and driving into oncoming traffic. Stop spikes were set up near the intersection of Route 302 and Route 112.

At just past 7:15 p.m., a Grafton dispatcher stated someone previously on the phone with Seto claimed she said she would take her own life or kill an officer when she gets pulled over. A couple of minutes later, the dispatcher said Seto drove over the spikes and was stopped in front of the Twin River Campground and Cottages. Firefighters were also requested to help police shut down both roadways.

Not long after a dispatcher asked if a crisis negotiator should be lined up, they reported shots fired and that Seto had been hit, according to scanner chatter. EMTs were then requested.

Garrity said there was no threat to the public and no citizens or police were injured during the incident.

"The exact circumstances surrounding this incident are now under active investigation," he added.

A free, 24/7, confidential service can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information, and local resources. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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