Crime
“We ask for your support by providing any information that is helpful to the ongoing investigation.”
Djeswende Reid, left, and Stephen Reid in this undated photo provided by researchers. NH Attorney General’s Office
The family of a Concord, New Hampshire couple who investigators say were shot to death last week near a walking trail are asking the public to heed authorities’ information call as they continue their investigation.
Relatives, in a statement released Sunday night, described Stephen Reid, 67, and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid, 66, as soulmates who shared a love of adventure and exercise. The couple moved to Concord, Stephen’s hometown, three years ago, according to the statement. Shared by WMUR.
“Steve’s thirty-plus-year career as an international development specialist serving the world’s most vulnerable through USAID humanitarian projects would not have been possible without the love, care and support of Wendy, who also helped recently resettled refugees to adjust and thrive in the United States,” the family said.
The Reids were found dead Thursday, three days after they left their home for a walk near Broken Ground Trails.
“Family and friends didn’t see or hear from them after that,” Deputy Attorney General Geoffrey Ward told reporters Friday, after autopsies revealed the Reids were murdered.
Here’s what we know about the case so far:
The Reids left their house for a walk on Monday afternoon. Investigators discovered their bodies Thursday, authorities said.
According to Ward, the Reids left their home at the Alton Woods apartment complex on Loudon Road around 2:22 p.m. on Monday, April 18.
Their excursion outside took them to the area near the trails, just over a mile from their home, Ward said.
The couple was reported missing Wednesday when Stephen failed to show up “for a planned event,” Ward said.
Concord police, with the help of the New Hampshire State Police and the New Hampshire Central Special Operations Unit, began search efforts that ended when authorities found the Reids’ bodies Thursday night, police said. authorities.
Ward declined to comment on what led investigators to the Portsmouth Street trails. The attorney general’s office said in a statement that the bodies were recovered from “a wooded area very close to the Marsh Loop Trail.”
Autopsies by Deputy Medical Examiner Mitchell Weinberg determined that both Stephen and Djeswende died from multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of each death was homicide, authorities said.
Ward on Friday asked anyone with information about the killings to contact Concord police. He also advised anyone with security video surveillance or game and wildlife cameras in the area to review footage from the past week to see if the Reids could be seen on the video recordings.
“What we’re interested in is … if people specifically found them, or have any information about anyone they saw or anything they observed in that area of the Broken Ground Trails on Monday afternoon,” Ward said. “That’s the time frame we’re looking at.”
Concord Police Chief Bradley Osgood during a press conference on FridayHe called the case a “tragedy.”
“It’s something that came out of the blue and we’re doing our due diligence, investing all of our resources, working with our state and local partners to bring this case to a successful resolution,” Osgood said.
The Reids moved to Concord three years ago to “enjoy a well-earned retirement,” their family said.
The Reids moved to Stephen’s hometown of Concord three years ago to “enjoy a well-deserved retirement,” according to a statement signed by “Lindsay and Brian Reid, and the Reid/Forey families.”
Here is the full statement released on Sunday and Posted by WMUR:
The children and extended family of Steve and Djeswende (Wendy) Reid would like to express our sincere thanks to members of the Concord Police Department, NH State Police, Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, Attorney General’s Office and NH Fish and Game for their extraordinary efforts over the last week in investigating the deaths of our loved ones.
Steve served four years in the Peace Corps in West Africa right out of college. He met his future wife and soul mate, Wendy, who was from West Africa, while she was studying in Washington DC on an athletic scholarship. They bonded over their mutual love of adventure and exercise.
Steve and Wendy had returned to their hometown of Concord three years ago to enjoy a well-earned retirement. Steve’s thirty-plus-year career as an international development specialist serving the world’s most vulnerable through USAID humanitarian projects would not have been possible without the love, care and support of Wendy, who also helped recently resettled refugees to acclimatize and prosper in the United States.
As requested by the police, we request your support by providing any information that may be useful to the ongoing investigation.
Authorities don’t have any “specific information” to believe the general public is at risk, but advise residents to be vigilant.
In its statement, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office encouraged area residents to “be vigilant and take normal precautions in your daily life.”
Suspicious behavior and activity should be reported to Concord police, authorities said.
When asked if the attack on the Reids was random, Ward said he couldn’t speculate.
“We do not have specific information that would lead us to believe that the general public is at risk,” Ward told reporters. “That said, stay tuned. Take your normal daily precautions. Concord Police will continue to be vigilant with patrols in those areas and in areas where there are public outdoor recreation spaces.”
Ward said he also couldn’t comment on the Reids’ personal history “or anything like that to preserve the integrity of the investigation.”
“It’s obviously a tragic set of circumstances and our thoughts and condolences go out to the Reid family,” Ward said.
Concord police can be reached at 603 225-8600 and tips can be submitted anonymously by calling the Concord Regional Crime Hotline at 603 226-3100, authorities said. Tips can also be submitted online through the Crime line website or by text trying TIP234 and the message to CRIMES (274637).
Authorities said Crimeline “gives cash to anyone whose information leads directly to information about the Reids murders.
“All leads remain anonymous,” authorities said.
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