NH's Unsolved Murders

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There are dozens of cases on the New Hampshire Attorney General’s cold case list.

Below are local cases in New Hampshire Patch communities:

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BEDFORD

• Unidentified female, 1971

On October 6, 1971 the body of a deceased female was located in a wooded area at the end of Kilton Road near the Route 101 by-pass in Bedford, NH (now the on-ramp from Route 101 to Kilton Road in Bedford). Forensic analysis indicated that the victim had died approximately one to three months before her body was discovered. The victim’s identity has never been determined. Based on a post-mortem examination, the victim a Caucasian female, approximately 25 to 35 years old and between 61 and 65 inches tall. Her hair color was possibly brown. She was wearing a maroon pullover blouse with lace at the neck, short hip-hugger dungaree-type shorts, and size 7 sandals. The manner of death has not been determined but the circumstances indicate that foul play was involved in the victim’s death.

Sketches:

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CONCORD

• David Braley, 1989/1990

David Braley, a 21-year-old Belmont, NH resident, was last seen alive at the Take 5 Music Hall Night Club in Concord, NH on November 10, 1989. His body was pulled from the Merrimack River in Manchester, NH, on March 18, 1990. Police believe that David was involved in an altercation behind the nightclub that November evening and was badly beaten. Police believe that David’s body was later dumped into the river. Although this case was not ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner, the circumstances surrounding David’s death are suspicious and would suggest foul play was involved.

• Judy Lord, 1975

On May 20, 1975 at approximately 12:30 p.m., the body of Judy Lord, age 22, was discovered in her Royal Gardens apartment in Concord, NH. She had been suffocated and strangled. At the time of her murder, Judy Lord lived with her seventeen-month-old son Gregory. Judy was last seen alive on the evening of May 19, 1975 at about 10:30 p.m., when she left a volleyball game that was being played in a common area of the apartment complex. Crime scene technicians spent over two days processing the apartment for evidence. Over the years numerous interviews have been conducted with friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Despite the efforts of investigators and the New Hampshire State Police Crime Lab, this case remains unsolved.

• Shirley Ann McBride, 1984

Shirley Ann McBride who was known to her friends as “Tippy,” was last seen in Concord, NH on July 13, 1984 leaving her sister’s apartment on Union Street. Shirley Ann was fifteen years old at the time of her disappearance. Shirley Ann has not been seen nor heard from since. She was wearing light summer clothing at the time of her disappearance. She left behind money, clothing, and other personal effects. Although this case has not been ruled a homicide, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance would suggest foul play was involved.

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EXETER

• Tammy Belanger, 1984

Age-progression sketch:

Eight-year-old Tammy Belanger disappeared on November 13, 1984 while walking to school on Court Street in Exeter, NH. Despite a massive search and extensive investigation over the years, Tammy has never been located.

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MERRIMACK

• Megan Jimenez, 1989

At about 5:30 a.m. on June 15, 1989 Merrimack Police received a call for service from Karen Jimenez, mother of Megan Jimenez. When the police arrived at 15 Sharon Avenue in Merrimack, NH, the officer found Megan, age 2½, unresponsive and not breathing. Megan was not revived and was declared dead at the hospital that same day. An autopsy determined that her death was a homicide as a result of long-term pattern physical abuse.

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MILFORD

• Michael Kierstead, 1986

Michael Kierstead, age 25, of Greenville, NH was last seen after he withdrew money from the Indian Head Bank in Wilton, NH at approximately 4:00 p.m. On September 4, 1986 Kierstead was seen getting into a blue sedan on Main Street in Wilton, NH. There were two other men in the vehicle. The operator of the vehicle was described by a witness as a white male, approximately 18-20 years old, clean cut, with short dark hair. Michael was found stabbed to death in a sand pit off North River Road, in Milford, NH on September 5, 1986.

• Paul Herlihy, 2003

The body of Paul Herlihy, age 50, was found in his home at 425 Nashua Street, Milford, on August 27, 2003. His body was discovered by the police, during a welfare check at the home, Paul’s body was decomposing. An autopsy determined that Paul’s death was a homicide but the cause of death has been withheld for investigative reasons.

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NASHUA

• Dorothy Bois, 1973

Dorothy Ann Bois was reported missing to the Nashua Police Department in the early morning hours of October 4, 1973. At that time, Dorothy was 22 years old, 4’10”, and weighed approximately 100 lbs. She was living at 100 Kinsley Street, first floor, with her husband Kenneth Bois when she was last seen. At that time, Dorothy had brown hair and hazel eyes.

Since she was reported missing, friends and family have not had any contact with Dorothy. In March 2009, the Nashua Police Department re-opened and continued the investigation into Dorothy’s disappearance, and that investigation led the Nashua Police Department to obtain search warrants for two properties in Nashua, NH. Those properties are 247 Main Dunstable Road and 19 Woodbury Drive. The Nashua Police Department has recently completed the searches of those properties.

• Madlyn Crouse, 1976

Madlyn Crouse, age 74, was found strangled to death in her apartment on Main Street in Nashua, NH. She died either late at night on February 27 or early on February 28, 1976.

• Kathleen Randall, 1972

Kathleen Randall, age 18, a freshman from Boston University, was reported missing on September 19, 1972. She had been missing from her dorm since September 13, 1972. Her nude and decomposing body was found at Yudicki Farm on Route 111-A in Nashua on October 1, 1972. The manner of death was ruled undetermined by the medical examiner because of decomposition, but the circumstances surrounding her death indicate that foul play was involved. The case has been treated as a homicide.

• John Wiegmann, 2009

John R. Wiegmann was found strangled to death inside his motel room in Nashua, NH on Sunday May 3, 2009. John, age 59, had been staying at the Motel 6 on Progress Avenue for several days prior to his murder. He was last seen getting into a green minivan at the motel around 7:30-8:00 pm on Saturday May 2, 2009. This van is described as having a 3-4 inch diameter sunspot on the passenger’s side front fender in front of the mirror. Earlier that evening, he visited several local restaurants and bars, and was seen wearing a green t-shirt, jeans, a brown windbreaker-type jacket, and his cane. John had spent some time living in Utah, Las Vegas, California and Arizona, but had recently returned to the Nashua area to be near his family.

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PORTSMOUTH

• Stella Bolton and James Moore, 1991

On Saturday, February 16, 1991 Stella N. Bolton, age 68, and James J. Moore, age 73, were found murdered in their home at 74 Rockhill Avenue in Portsmouth, NH. It was later determined they were stabbed to death prior to their house being set on fire. The fire was discovered at 1:30 a.m.

• Terry Giles, Joseph Poulin, and Linda Plummer 1986

On Saturday, October 11, 1986 Terry Giles, age 24, and Joseph Poulin, age 29, died as a result of a fire at their home at 314 Islington Street in Portsmouth, NH. A third person, Linda Plummer, age 39, died on March 30, 1987 at Massachusetts General Hospital as a result of burns received in the fire. This fire was determined to have been an arson. The fire was discovered on the morning of October 11th at about 3:25 a.m.

• Laura Kempton, 1981

On Monday, September 28, 1981 at 9:30 a.m., the body of Laura Kempton, age 23, was found murdered in her apartment located at 20 Chapel Street in Portsmouth, NH. The autopsy conducted by the NH Medical Examiner reported Laura died of massive head trauma, consistent with being struck by a blunt object, causing contusions and lacerations of the brain. Laura was a student at the Portsmouth Beauty School and was employed at Macro Polo, Inc. and Karen’s Ice Cream Parlor.

• Tammy Little, 1982

On Tuesday, October 19, 1982 Tammy Little was found murdered in her apartment located at 315 Maplewood Avenue in Portsmouth, NH. The autopsy conducted by the NH Medical Examiner determined Tammy, age 20, died as a result of massive head injuries. Tammy was a student at the Portsmouth Beauty School.

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SALEM

• William Dobens, 2006

William Dobens, age 55, was found dead in his home at 7 South Policy Street in Salem, NH, on May 5, 2006. An autopsy revealed that he died as a result of a stab wound to the chest. Circumstances surrounding the case indicate that William’s death was suspicious, although the medical examiner has not yet reached a conclusion about the manner of death.

• Hai Bo (Paul) Lei, 1995

The body of Hai Bo (Paul) Lei, age 26, of Boston, MA, was found on the side of Hampstead Road in Salem, NH, on March 30, 1995. The victim was shot several times and strangled.

• Melodie Stankiewicz, 1975

On June 30, 1975 Melodie Stankiewicz, age 27, of Cambridge, MA, was found stabbed to death and floating in Captain’s Pond in Salem, NH.

• Henry Travers, 1980

On August 30, 1980 Henry Travers, Jr. of Derry, NH, was working as the night clerk at the Fireside Motel on Route 28 in Salem, NH (now the site of Home Depot). He was found shot to death. Henry was 73 years old at the time of his death.

• Unidentified male, 1969

Sketch:

An unidentified white male was found on the side of I-93 between the Pelham Road exit ramp and Rockingham Boulevard in Salem, NH, on August 7, 1969. The victim was shot four times, twice in the head, once in the torso and once in the neck. The victim was between 28 and 40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed about 225 pounds. The victim was in a state of decomposition when he was discovered by a road work crew in a water-filled pit on the side of the road.