Newport, NH – A 17-year-old girl was last seen alive in Claremont more than 40 years ago. Her brutal killing remains one of New Hampshire’s enduring cold cases.
According to the New Hampshire State Police, Bernice Courtemanche was last seen at approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 30, 1984. She was reported missing the following day. Nearly two years later, on April 19, 1986, her skeletal remains were discovered near Cat Hole Hill Road in Newport, NH. Authorities determined she had been stabbed to death.
The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit continues to seek information on the case, appealing to the public for leads that may help bring justice to Courtemanche’s family. Investigators hope that renewed attention to the decades-old homicide will encourage individuals with knowledge of the crime to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to submit a tip via the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit’s online portal at business.nh.gov/ColdCaseTips or by contacting the unit directly at coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.
Courtemanche’s death is one of many cold cases being actively reviewed by the state’s dedicated unit, which works in partnership with local law enforcement and victim advocacy groups. Officials say even the smallest detail could help uncover the truth.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram & like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have something you’d like to let us know about? Message us on our social channels and let us know about it!
