A Laconia, N.H. woman has been arrested and charged in the Christmas Eve 2019 death of her 5-year-old grandson, according to law enforcement authorities.
Sherry Connor, 61, faces multiple counts, ranging from manslaughter for recklessly causing the death of the juvenile and negligent homicide, to assault and witness tampering, according to a joint statement issued Friday by Colonel Mark Hall, of New Hampshire State Police, Chief Matthew Canfield of the Laconia Police Department, and Keith Cormier, county attorney for Canfield and Belknap.
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Connor will be arraigned in Belknap County Superior Court at a later date, the statement said.
Her arrest comes nearly five years after a horrific murder that has been well-chronicled in New Hampshire local media.
Authorities deemed the death of Dennis Vaughan Jr. on Dec. 24, 2019 as “suspicious,” and an autopsy ruled the child’s death a homicide from blunt force trauma to the head and neck, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office said in a statement issued in 2020.
Dennis Vaughan Jr.Justice for Dennis “Boo” Vaughan Jr. Facebook page
The injured boy was in an apartment at 103 Blueberry Lane, unit 67, in Laconia with several other family members when police responded. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said in 2020.
The child and his three siblings had been placed into Connor’s custody by state officials two years before his death at her apartment on Dec. 24, 2019, according to The Laconia Daily Sun.
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Vaughan Jr. would have turned 10 on June 11, according to a Facebook page calling for justice in his killing.
Upset over the long lag in an arrest and and faced with a three-year statute of limitations, the boy’s mother and Connor’s daughter, Danielle Vaughan, filed a lawsuit against the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families in December 2022, the Laconia Daily Sun reported.
The suit outlined more than 25 reports submitted by teachers, nurses, social workers, law enforcement, neighbors, and anonymous sources of suspected physical abuse and neglect of the Vaughan children while they were in their grandmother’s care, the paper reported.
Tonya Alanez can be reached at tonya.alanez@globe.com. Follow her @talanez.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
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In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Pease Air National Guard KC-46 Pegasus air refueling aircraft in June 2023.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
