Jury: Transient Murdered Retired Couple On East Concord Trail In 2022

CONCORD, NH — A Merrimack County Superior Court jury found Logan Lavar Clegg guilty on Monday of murdering Stephen and Djeswende Reid in April 2022, falsifying physical evidence, and being a felon in possession of a gun on Monday.

Stephen and Djeswende Reid were killed on April 18, 2022, on the Marsh Loop Trail, one of five trails in the Broken Ground Trail system in East Concord. Their bodies were found a few days later after Stephen Reid missed a tennis game and family members became concerned. The Reids were shot, and their bodies were dragged from the trail and covered in debris, leaves and branches, and baking soda.

Clegg, who had at least two campsites near the murder scene, had been a homeless transient in the city since November 2021, working some of that time at the McDonald’s Restaurant on Loudon Road. During the initial Reid’s missing persons investigation, Concord police detectives spoke with Clegg, who gave the name Arthur Kelly, to police, at a homeless encampment near the Alton Woods apartment complex where the Reids lived.

After the Reid’s bodies were found, detectives went back to speak with Arthur Kelly, but he had vanished.

At the time of the shootings, a man and a woman, hiking separate areas of the trail system, reported hearing multiple gunshots. One said she saw a man, later identified as Clegg, on the trail near the area that would be identified as the shooting scene. The retired microbiologist, after reading about the murdered couple, came forward, and her rendition of the suspect was used to track down Clegg.

Later, police learned of a campsite that was burned not far from the shooting area. Propane tanks, bullet casings, and other items were found at the site and connected to Clegg via purchases at Walmart.

During many months, investigators combed through digital data from Stephen Reid’s cellphone and Gmail account and videos at local stores for evidence linking the burnt tent site to Clegg. They found video of him being at Shaw's about 30 minutes before the murders, heading toward the trails. They also connected transactions for an illegally purchased Glock handgun and two magazines to Clegg’s alias, Arthur Kelly, in Vermont.

After fleeing Concord, Clegg traveled to Maine and then Vermont, where he was arrested in mid-October 2022, not far from where the Reids previously lived before retirement.

A second alias used by Clegg, Denton Kelly, as well as a prior case where Clegg killed a man in Seattle, Washington, but was able to escape charges claiming self-defense, were not allowed to be heard by the jury. The prosecution also did not call several witnesses who worked with Clegg in both New Hampshire and Vermont who claimed he had a hair-trigger temper and they feared he might have homicidal tendencies or could even be a serial killer. Supervisors also said Clegg was a good employee and hard worker.

Jury members said the verdicts were unanimous on all nine counts.

After the jury’s forewoman offered the first guilty decision on the first murder count, Brian Reid, the couple’s son, slammed his hand against a wood banister in the gallery’s front row. His wife, who would later offer a statement on behalf of the family, gripped his arm to console him. Other family members and friends, including Sue and Rod Forey, embraced, clearly pleased with the decision.

Judge John Kissinger discussed a sentencing date with the attorneys, noting he would be out of the court for a couple of weeks in November. A time and date were then set for 9 a.m. on Dec. 15.

Clegg faces 20 to 40 years in prison on the four murder charges and 3.5 to seven years on the other five felony charges.

Attorney General John Formella said, “Today, our thoughts are with Stephen and Djeswende Reid, their family, and all those who knew and loved them.” He also extended “sincere thanks to the trial team and our law enforcement partners, especially the Concord Police Department, for their excellent work on this case.”

Formella added, “Going forward, we at the Department of Justice will continue our work to protect the public and seek justice.”

Patch Trial Coverage

• No Verdict Friday In Clegg Double-Murder Trial In Concord
• Logan Clegg Double-Murder Case Goes To Jury In Concord
• Clegg Defense Starts In Double-Murder Trial After Judge Rules Enough Evidence To Continue
• Testimony: No Clegg DNA Link To Murders Of Stephen And Wendy Reid In Concord
• Bullet Casings Coming Into Focus In Clegg Trial
• Former Senior Assistant AG Found Bullet Casings A Month After Reids Murdered In Concord
• Clegg Jury Hears From Medical Examiner In Murders Of Concord Couple
• Concord Detective Testifies About Murder Weapon: Day 3 Of Clegg Trial
• Finding The Reids' Bodies: Concord Retired Couple Murder Trial, Day 2
• On First Day Of Trial, Jurors Visit Site Of Concord Double Murder

Prior Patch Coverage

• Concord Homeless Drifter Logan Clegg Double Murder Trial Set
• Homeless Drifter Indicted On 8 Charges In Concord Couple Murder Case
• Concord Double Murder Suspect Brought To NH, Waives Arraignment
• Concord Detectives Use Bullet Evidence, Alias To Find Suspected Killer
• AG: Clegg, Accused Of Murders, Acted Alone In Concord Double Homicide: Watch
• Vermont Fugitive Logan Clegg Arrested On Concord Murder Charges
• Person Of Interest In Concord Double Homicide Case Arrested In VT
• Investigators Eyeing 400+ Tips In Retired Concord Couple Homicide Case
• SUV Has 'No Connection' To Concord Double Homicide Case: Investigators
• Investigators: Toyota SUV Owner Not A Suspect In Concord Homicide Case
• Every Motive Being Eyed In Concord Double Homicide Case: Investigators
• Concord Police Overtime Inches Up In Wake Of Heights Homicide Case
• FBI, Detectives Expand Concord Homicide Case Canvass
• Sketch From Concord Couple Killings Investigation Leads To 100+ Tips
• Concord Retired Couple Killings Reward Increased To $50K: Alert
• Person Of Interest Sought In Concord Retired Couple Killings Case
• Concord Crimeline Posts $5K Reward In Retired Couple Shootings Case
• Concord Police Beef Up Patrols, Visibility In Recreation Areas, Trails
• A Week Later, Police Chip Away At Concord Double Homicide Leads: Video
• Investigators Back At Concord Retired Couple Shootings Crime Scene
• Concord Residents Face A Mix Of Fear, Faith After Couple Shot, Killed
• Search Grid At Concord Homicide Scene Shows Sprawling Clues
• Concord Couple Shooting Update: FBI Working With Investigators
• Police, Fish & Game Search For Suspicious Death Clues In East Concord
• Missing Concord Couple's Deaths Ruled Homicides; Police Seek Tips
• Suspicious Deaths Investigation Underway At Concord's Marsh Loop Trail
• Dozens Of Police Search Concord Heights For Missing Couple: Video
• Missing Concord Couple's 'Disappearance Is Of Significant Concern'

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