Autopsy: New Hampshire House Speaker Died Of COVID-19

CONCORD, NH — An autopsy of New Hampshire House Speaker Dick Hinch revealed he died due to or related to COVID-19.

Hinch, a Republican state representative from Merrimack who was elected to the position Dec. 2, died Wednesday. He was 71.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office Thursday released autopsy information that revealed the COVID-19 diagnosis.

"During this difficult time, the family has requested that their privacy continue to be respected," Kate Giaquinto, the director of communications for the attorney general's office, said.

According to InDepthNH.org, Hinch was attending a virtual meeting with legislators Tuesday and reported feeling ill. When he was sworn in to be speaker on Dec. 2, Organization Day for state representatives, Hinch and others were outside for a long period of time. He was found dead at home the next day.

Hinch received a number of accolades from both sides of the aisle after his death was announced. He was commended for living much of his life devoted to public service, including serving in the military. Hinch was about to begin his fourth term as state representative.

Hinch and others came under fire about nine days ago after it was revealed Republicans leaders met on Nov. 20 at the McIntyre Ski area in Manchester for a leadership meeting where "a very small number" of people were later found to have coronavirus. Several members were maskless at the meeting and also ate from a buffet, according to reports. Anywhere from two to four people reportedly tested positive later.

No one from state health officials nor the GOP told other leaders about the positive infections and it is not believed that they caught the virus at the meeting but had it before. It is unknown if Hinch caught coronavirus from that meeting, if he had it before the meeting, or if he was previously tested for the virus.

The meeting, however, was held more than 10 days before Organization Day — so the presumed contagion time period had more than past. A number of state representatives, however, skipped Organization Day.

When Gov. Chris Sununu was asked about the meeting, he chastised Republicans for being irresponsible.

Acting Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) and state Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem) said leaders would be consulting with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services as well as the General Court's administrative office Thursday regarding "advice on any additional, specific steps we should take, beyond our on-going COVID-19 protocols and contact tracing, to ensure the continued protection of our legislators and staff." The statehouse building remains closed to the public, they noted.

"As legislative leaders, we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our fellow legislators and staff members who work at the statehouse in Concord," they said in a joint statement. "It is our responsibility to ensure COVID-19 incident notification and transparency. These are responsibilities that we take extremely seriously."

They added that they were "deeply saddened" that COVID-19, which spares no one, had "afflicted our friend and colleague."

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