New Hampshire
Jury to resume deliberations in trial of Logan Clegg, charged with killing New Hampshire couple
CONCORD, N.H. — A jury on Friday ended its first day of deliberations without issuing a verdict in the case of a man charged with fatally shooting a retired New Hampshire couple on a hiking trail, with prosecutors saying he lied to police to cover up his crimes and defense attorneys saying authorities arrested the wrong person.
Logan Clegg, 27, is charged with second-degree murder for what prosecutors described as “knowingly and recklessly” causing the deaths of Stephen and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid. The couple, who had done international development work, had recently retired and were shot multiple times after going for a walk on the trail near their apartment in the city of Concord on April 18, 2022.
The jury will resume deliberations Monday.
The Reids’ bodies, found several days later, had been dragged into the woods and covered with leaves, sticks and debris, police said. Clegg was living in a tent near the trail at the time. His trial began Oct. 3 and lawyers delivered closing arguments Thursday.
Clegg also is charged with several counts of falsifying physical evidence and being a convicted felon in possession of a gun. He said in court Thursday that he was guilty of the latter charge.
After the Reids were reported missing, Clegg, who was questioned by investigators searching for them, provided a false name. He later burned his tent, erased information from his computer and bought a bus ticket out of Concord, prosecutors said.
Investigators eventually found and arrested Clegg in October 2022 in South Burlington, Vermont, with a one-way plane ticket to Berlin, Germany, a fake passport, and a gun in his backpack.
Prosecutors said that his repeated lies, attempt to flee and the gun in his backpack offered clear evidence of his guilt.
“The state has proven to you … that the defendant, and the defendant only, killed Stephen and Wendy,” prosecutor Joshua Speicher said, describing the killing as senseless. “We have proven this beyond a reasonable doubt. We have proven to you how he did it, when he did it, where he did it.”
Speicher added, “What we don’t know is why. We just don’t know.”
Clegg’s lawyers said he did not kill the Reids, and that the only reason he gave police an alias and left New Hampshire was because he had been hiding from the authorities after violating his probation from 2021 on burglary and theft charges in Utah. They said he had already spent time overseas, in Portugal, before moving back to the United States.
Defense attorney Mariana Dominguez said the state’s case was full of holes.
“Logan Clegg is not guilty,” she told the jury in her closing arguments. “Police investigated, but instead of looking at the science and at the evidence with clear eyes, they speculated. They assumed. … They saw only what they wanted to see. They got the wrong guy.”
Clegg’s lawyers said an analysis of shell casings and bullets found in the area could not conclude that his gun fired the shots and that the casings could have come from a variety of guns.
“They have no idea what gun killed the Reids,” Dominguez told the jury, adding that police “only had eyes” for Clegg’s gun.
But prosecutors said the bullets and casings came from Clegg’s gun.
Both sides also gave differing accounts of a woman who was walking on the trail with her dogs and allowed the Reids to pass her and walk ahead. She later heard gunshots, then came across a man on the trail before continuing her hike.
Defense attorneys argued that the man she saw on the trail was not Clegg because the clothing he had on did not match the prosecution’s description.
New Hampshire
‘Warm and welcoming': Newton family remembered after Christmas deaths in NH
The death of a Newton, Massachusetts, family of four in New Hampshire this Christmas has left many in the city in mourning.
The Goldsteins — husband and wife Matthew and Lyla and their daughters Violet and Valerie — were found on Wednesday dead inside their vacation home in Wakefield of what investigators suspect was carbon monoxide poisoning — there were no carbon monoxide detectors at the home, authorities said Friday.
Valerie, 22, was supposed to be having a birthday party Friday. Instead, friends gathered to remember her.
“She was the most loving, accepting person you could possibly imagine,” Jessie King told reporters.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better friend,” said Keren Kohane, calling the family accepting, close, “warm and welcoming.”
Matthew Goldstein was a teacher at Brookline Public Schools — flowers and messages of condolence were left at the K-8 Edith Baker School, where he taught.
“Mr. Goldstein’s dedication to inspiring students and shaping young minds has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Superintendent Linus Guillory Jr. said in a message to the community.
A Massachusetts teacher is among four people who died in a suspected carbon monoxide incident in New Hampshire on Christmas Day.
Follow NBC10 Boston:
https://instagram.com/nbc10boston
https://tiktok.com/@nbc10boston
https://facebook.com/NBC10Boston
Tweets by NBC10Boston
Valerie’s friend Conor Sheehy remembered him similarly: “He was beloved as a teacher. He would constantly post about how students would return back to his classroom to come visit him.”
Violet’s roommate at the Rhode Island School of Design, Finleigh Lewis, said in a statement obtained by The Boston Globe that she was “a beautiful source of light,” kind and caring.
Investigators have so far confirmed that Matthew Goldstein died of carbon monoxide poisoning, with testing still pending for the rest of the family, but officials described what happened as apparently a tragic accident.
“At this time we’ve identified the homes heating system to be the source of the carbon monoxide leak,” New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said.
Four people who hadn’t been heard from on Christmas were found dead inside a home in Wakefield, New Hampshire, from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.
The bodies were found inside the family’s home on Province Lake Road after authorities were called for a wellbeing check around 4:21 p.m. — family members reported that they didn’t show up to a holiday event they were supposed to attend.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas with no odor or color produced in the burning of fuel, and Toomey urged the public to ensure they have working alarms in their homes to prevent further tragedies like the one that befell the Goldsteins.
New Hampshire
Man involved in standoff with NH police found dead after fire
BRADFORD, N.H. (WCAX) – Authorities say a man involved in an hourslong standoff with police at a home in Bradford, New Hampshire, died after the house went up in flames.
Police were called to the home on West Main Street at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday for a report of a man in crisis. Officers found the man armed with a knife. They tried to de-escalate the situation but were not successful.
At about 5:30 p.m., police spotted fire and smoke started coming from the home. Multiple crews were called in to fight the fire which took hours to extinguish.
The man was found dead inside the house after the fire was out. His body was sent to the medical examiner for autopsy to verify his identity and confirm the cause and manner of death. Police say the death is not considered suspicious.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, help is available. You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
New Hampshire
Man involved in NH standoff found dead following house fire, officials say
A man was found dead Thursday following a standoff and a house fire at a New Hampshire home, according to authorities.
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal says they responded to a residence on West Main Street around 12:43 p.m. for a report of a man armed with a knife in crisis.
Multiple law enforcement agencies provided additional assistance at the scene.
According to officials, attempts were made to de-escalate the situation to no avail.
Around 5:30 p.m., investigators say they saw smoke and fire coming from the home and as the flames intensified, mutual aid was called to the scene.
Crews battled the blaze for hours and were eventually able to knock it down.
Authorities say they found the deceased man after a subsequent search of the home. His name is being withheld at this time.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to verify his identity and cause and manner of death.
Police say the death does not appear to be suspicious.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289.
No further information was immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
-
Technology7 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News1 week ago
Novo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics1 week ago
Illegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment1 week ago
'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
Think you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
Technology3 days ago
There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
Technology1 week ago
Fox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit
-
News5 days ago
France’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister