5th suspect in Mont Vernon killing back in court for 3rd charge

NASHUA – Autumn Savoy on Thursday made his second court appearance in as many days in connection with the Mont Vernon home-invasion murder of Kimberly Cates and attack on her daughter, Jamie, 11.

This time, Savoy, 20, showed little emotion as he was escorted into the Nashua District Courtroom in handcuffs and wearing an orange Hillsborough County jail jumpsuit. He sobbed during his court appearance the day before.

Savoy was arraigned Wednesday in Milford District Court on two counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution. A third count of conspiracy to hinder apprehension and prosecution was transferred to Nashua District Court, where Savoy was arraigned Thursday. All three charges are Class B felonies; each count is punishable by up to seven years in prison plus fines.

Nashua District Court Judge Thomas Bamberger set bail at $100,000. Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley said the bail is concurrent with the $100,000 bail ordered in Milford District Court.

Savoy, of 88 Runnells Bridge Road, Hollis, wasn’t in the Cates’ home when the murder occurred, Hinckley said Wednesday. He is charged with conspiring to help cover up the crime, Hinckley said.

During the Nashua District Court appearance, Bamberger noted that Savoy is not to have contact with Steven Spader, Christoper Gribble, Quinn Glover or Steven Marks.

“Do you know who these individuals are?” Bamberger asked Savoy.

“Yes, I do, your honor,” Savoy responded.

On Oct. 6, two days after the early morning home invasion, murder and assault on rural Trow Road, two of Savoy’s friends – Brookline residents Spader, 18, and Gribble, 20, – were arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. Amherst residents Glover, 18, and Marks, 18, were charged with burglary.

Bamberger scheduled a probable cause hearing for Dec. 3 on Savoy’s conspiracy count. However, Hinckley said he would file a motion to consolidate the charge with the other two and transfer jurisdiction to Milford District Court, where Savoy faces a Dec. 1 probable cause hearing.

No new details about the charges were released Wednesday, and Hinckley said the case has been sealed because the investigation is continuing. In response to a question following the arraignment, Hinckley wouldn’t comment on whether Savoy was cooperating with prosecutors to provide information about the other four defendants.

Prosecutors allege in one of the counts that Savoy acted in concert with Spader and Gribble to conceal or destroy physical evidence that may have led to their arrests.

On the second count, Hinckley alleged that Savoy agreed to provide an alibi for Spader and Gribble, and did so by telling investigators the two had spent the night of Oct. 3 and most of Oct. 4 at Savoy’s house. The invasion took place around 4 a.m. Oct. 4.

During that time, Hinckley also alleges Savoy helped Spader and Gribble search the Internet for news stories or other mention of the crime.

The conspiracy charge alleges Savoy helped Spader and Gribble bag clothing they allegedly wore during the assaults and items stolen from the Cates home, and then helped them dispose of the bag or bags in the Nashua River in Hollis.

Because Hollis lies outside the jurisdiction of Milford District Court, that charge was transferred to Nashua District Court.

Savoy’s home is less than a quarter-mile from the Nashua River’s popular fishing spot and boat ramp where Runnells Bridge and Depot roads meet.

During a discussion about bail, Savoy’s attorney told Bamberger that while his client has a criminal record, it has only been for nonviolent crimes.

In April 2008, he was arrested on school grounds for possession of a controlled substance after three students overdosed on prescription medication within a week.

The following February, police arrested Savoy for misdemeanor criminal mischief, accusing him of scratching the word “fag” into a Mitsubishi Lancer parked at high school and causing roughly $500 in damages.

Police didn’t consider the vandalism a hate crime because, Lt. James Sartell said at the time, “the car belonged to a friend of the victim, but he (Savoy) didn’t know it.”

Patrick Meighan can be reached at 594-6518 or pmeighan@nashuatelegraph.com.