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Two anonymous donors, pledges from police associations boost reward in Concord double homicide past 30K mark

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Reporter | May 18, 2022

(Police sketch) A sketch of a man Concord police describe as a person of interest in connection with the April murders of a Concord couple was released this morning.

CONCORD — As state, local and federal law enforcement personnel press their investigation into last month’s violent shooting deaths of a local couple near their home, authorities have announced the establishment of a reward fund seeded by a pair of anonymous donors.

With that announcement came the distribution to local news media and other entities of a sketch that depicts a man in his 20s or early 30s who police are eager to identify and speak with regarding the killings.

The man, who police describe as a person of interest in the case, is believed to have been in the area when a person or persons shot to death Stephen and Djeswende Reid as they walked through a recreational area off of Portsmouth Street one month ago today.

The person of interest, police said, was seen in the vicinity of the shooting incident wearing a dark blue jacket, possibly with a hood, and khaki-colored pants. He was carrying a black backpack,” police added.

The Reids’ bodies were found three days later in the woods along the Marsh Loop Trail, part of the Broken Ground Trails network that’s not far from the couple’s home in the Alton Woods apartment complex, which is part of the Concord Heights neighborhood in the eastern part of town.

The man police are seeking is white, in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build and short brown hair. He is also described as clean shaven.

Anyone who may recognize the individual depicted in the sketch is urged to contact Concord police at 225-8600, or submit an anonymous tip to the Concord Regional Crimeline by calling 226-3100.

As for the reward, Attorney General John M. Formella and Concord police Chief Bradley Osgood said Tuesday that the fund, which is being facilitated by the Concord Regional Crimeline, has increased to $33,500.

The lion’s share — $20,000 — was pledged by an anonymous donor, who attached a condition: The recipient or recipients of that portion of the reward must come forward within 60 days with the information that leads to the suspect.

A second anonymous donor has pledged $5,000, with the balance contributed by members of the Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association, its Supervisors’ Association, and the Retired New Hampshire State Police Troopers Association.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Mitchell Weinberg, who conducted autopsies on the Reids’ bodies, determined that both died of multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of their deaths is homicide.

Formella and Osgood said the investigation is active and ongoing, and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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