By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — Mum continues to be the word from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office regarding the search of a Newport home in regard to unresolved homicide cold cases, despite officials being seen filling boxes marked “biohazard” while reportedly searching for evidence at 1 Ayers Road on May 21.
While local and state law enforcement officials searched the property in Newport for hours on end, no arrest ever came from it, and authorities have remained quiet.
Assistant Attorney General Scott Chase was the point of contact at the scene when police searched the home and garage of 1 Ayers Road, owned by Jeffrey Champagne back in May. The Eagle Times recently reached out to Chase asking a variety of questions about the case. These included why the search took place and the reason for the timing as it was a cold case, whether an arrest was ever made or expected to be made, and if the public was in any danger as authorities confirmed that the search pertained to homicides.
Chase did not respond to the voicemail. However, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office Michael Garrity sent an email to The Eagle Times with limited information that did not include answers to the questions that were asked.
“Our related investigative efforts remain ongoing and we’ve been maintaining communication with anyone who may be related to the investigation,” said Garrity wrote.
On the morning of May 21, police vehicles that were both marked and unmarked were seen lining Ayers Road. A pop-up canopy was set up in the driveway as a command center and officials who were uniformed and in plain clothes were rummaging around through a garage adjacent to the house. Items could be seen being put into boxes and photographs were being taken by officers at the scene. Concerned neighbors on the street walked over to check out the situation, as authorities spent all day at the property that was surrounded by yellow caution tape.
Rumors have swirled in the community for years about the “Kelleyville Killer” and the search in May only ramped this up further. The Connecticut River Valley serial killer cases took place in the 1970s and 1980s, and potentially as early as 1968. There were at least seven victims, and one pregnant woman survived after being stabbed 27 times in 1988 in Swanzey. The survivor, Jane Boroski, confirmed with WMUR that the search stemmed from this, and that she had been notified.
Chase would not comment on if the search was related to these cases when interviewed at the scene, saying “I can’t confirm nor deny that.” He instead strongly encouraged the public to not jump to conclusions and speculate, and also maintain courtesy and privacy for people in the area.
Chase also declined to comment on what was recovered at the scene, and what specifically they were looking for.
The Eagle Times will continue to push for information from authorities regarding the matter and will update accordingly.
