A man fatally shot a woman, their 18-month-old daughter, and wounded another child before he was found dead hours later by suicide on the bank of the Merrimack River, autopsies confirmed Sunday, according to the New Hampshire attorney general’s office.
Autopsies completed on 35-year-old Nicole Hughes and her toddler daughter Ariella Bell determined that both died of multiple gunshot wounds, and their deaths were ruled homicides. Jamie Bell died from a “single, self-inflicted incised wound of the neck,” and his death was ruled a suicide, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office.
The investigation into the homicides of Hughes and her daughter Ariella continues, however officials believe Jamie Bell shot and killed them both before fleeing and eventually taking his own life.
A person of interest in an investigation into two suspicious deaths at a home in Franklin, New Hampshire on Saturday, has been found dead.
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According to authorities, Jamie Bell, 42, had been seen fleeing a home in Franklin, NH, on Saturday afternoon. Neighbors said they had heard gunshots.
Police arrived at the Elkins Street house to find Hughes, 35, and Ariella Bell, her daughter with Jamie Bell, shot to death, officials said in a Saturday evening press conference.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
Hughes’ 5-year-old daughter from another relationship had a gunshot wound to her arm and a cut on her back, officials said. She was taken to a hospital in Massachusetts with non-life threatening injuries.
The girl, whose name has not been shared, “is out of the hospital and recovering,” according to an online update from the superintendent of the Franklin School District.
Police spent several hours Saturday searching for Jamie Bell, first identified as a person of interest, on foot and by helicopter. The attorney general’s office had said he was armed and dangerous.
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Hughes and Jamie Bell were described as “intimate partners” but officials have not provided further details on their relationship.
An investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not provided a motive in the killings.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifelineby calling 988, call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting ‘Home’ to 741741 anytime.
Ann Chiasson Slatky was born on June 12, 1969, in Manchester NH to her parents Peter and Maggie Sullivan Chiasson. She attended Manchester Schools and graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1987. She earned her license to be a hairdresser from Empire Beauty School then spent the rest of
BEDFORD, N.H. (WHDH) – The Bedford, New Hampshire police officer who was shot during a struggle with a suspect early Saturday morning has been released from the hospital, Police Chief Daniel Douidi announced.
The officer is currently recovering at home, he said.
In a statement, Douidi said, “We are grateful that our officer was cleared to be released from the hospital. We are very thankful that his injuries weren’t life-threatening and that he’s now at home recovering. We will continue to support him during this time.”
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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CONCORD, NH — Concord firefighters were kept busy Sunday with an early morning homeless camp fire.
Fire and rescue teams, as well as police, were sent to Route 106 around 12:15 a.m. for a report of a fire. The first report came into police dispatch, with the caller reporting “a lot yelling” and a few 911 calls from the area of Osborne’s Farm & Garden Center of Concord/Agway.
“It sounds like a homeless camp might have just blown up,” the dispatcher said to officers sent to the area.
Capital Region fire dispatch then took a report from a resident on North Pembroke Road after they heard explosions. They said the fire was behind ADF Flooring, about a block from the police call.
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“(The camp is) most definitely on fire, and things are exploding now,” the dispatcher said.
Officers arrived at Osborne’s and began searching the area but did not find the camp or the fire.
“It’s all quiet back here,” one officer said.
The police dispatcher attempted to reach the caller, but they did not answer their cell phone.
A few minutes later, firefighters arrived, and a commander confirmed heavy fire coming from a large homeless camp behind ADF Flooring. Officers also drove to the area. The firefighters stretched hoses to the fire, and a second engine pump was requested.
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Around 12:45 a.m., a fire commander asked if more firefighters were needed since there was some concern about the fire spreading. Video from the scene showed flames at least 15 feet high in spots in a densely wooded area. According to scanner chatter, a firefighter reported later that the bulk of the fire appeared to have been knocked down.
A police officer reported to dispatch that no one appeared to be injured.
Around 1 a.m., a commander requested station coverage by other firefighters, saying they would be at the scene “for a little bit.”
Around 1:30 a.m., the fire was completely extinguished and firefighters began clearing the scene.
News 603 posted videos from the incident on Facebook here:
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And here:
The cause of the fire is unknown at post time.
Concord NH Patch will update this post when and if more information becomes available.
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