NH AG Releases Findings In Penacook Murder-Suicide

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office released its final report regarding the murder-suicide of a Penacook couple back in June.

According to the report, Matthew Balch shot and killed his wife, Sarah Balch, and then turned the gun on himself and killed himself.

The report outlines a volatile relationship between the couple, including witness reports, phone calls, and text messages, although some witnesses said the two seemed to have only "normal couple-issues."

A week before the murder-suicide, the arguments "escalated" between the couple, with Sarah stating to friends and writing in a letter to Matthew that she wanted a civil divorce. According to witnesses, the two also had drug problems, and the medical examiner's autopsies showed traces of Xanax and other drugs in both of the couple's systems.

The Attorney General's report outlines the gruesome details of the murder-suicide on the morning of June 14, including emotional arguments between the couple, frantic phone calls and text messages, and a call for help that Matthew made to his mother a few hours before the incident, as well as the shootings, which the mother witnessed.