After spending five days of my East Coast trip in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and meeting with a variety of people, I’d like to share a few observations which fall into the “suspicions confirmed” category. As always, feel free to disagree or voice your opinion in this arena. Here they are:
1. The ongoing investigation of the Stacey Burns murder must be really top-secret, as no one with whom I spoke was aware of anyone being re-interviewed by detectives or of any investigative activity occurring in Wolfeboro. I was told by a correspondent several months ago that this investigation was “very active” but was being kept under strict secret wraps. My suspicion? While it is an “Open, unsolved” case, it would be a stretch to call it active.
2. Theories of who the murderer is continue to flourish, which, in an atmosphere of non-information, is bound to happen. My confirmed suspicion? Nothing has been done to squelch these rumors, innuendos, and speculation so fear continues to exist in the community.
3. A significant number of people believe that this murder will never be solved. Another group believes the murder has been solved but the attorney general’s office is afraid they can’t win the case in court and therefore will not prosecute it. My confirmed suspicion? Some people are convinced that the crime scene or important evidence was compromised; therefore this case will never see a courtroom.
4. A final observation: Human nature being what it is, the intensity of the search for justice (please excuse the “search for justice” cliché) has diminished over the last six years. My suspicion is that crucial details of this case have been lost over time. Memories dim and are skewed by six years of conversation; facts of six years ago now become debatable; key witnesses move away, either physically or emotionally, thereby losing any chance of accurate reconstruction of their stories.
Here is a sad but realistic fact of life. There is a good chance that the murderer of Stacey Burns will never be tried for this crime. If this observation doesn’t infuriate you, nothing ever will.
Duke
I was born in Wolfeboro and have lived in or around this area for ever and have seen same thinkg happen over and over again. When ever there is a murder or some type of big crime, my memory starts with the Joseph Melanson murder crime police and Concord Dance around and investigate and wait until everyone not.able to Remember or doesn’t want to get involved For fear of getting blamed for not coming forward sooner. But like everything else put on the shelf and forget it. Safe way to not get involved and if you do know something it’s always the same can you prove it, of course not it’s been to long.
After researching the case of Russell Bean, missing for only one year before his wife divorces him and marries Robert Chambers, is found 10 years later burried in Chambers yard and now 35 years later still no arrest. After researching N.H. Justice dept, judge shopping in the 013 botched Mcleod trial where a mistrial was declared after only 8 hrs. of deliberation with a 10 to 2 in favor of aquittal. After meeting in person Jeff Strelzin, after all that, and I could be wrong, in fact I pray I am, after the last 6 years, I suspect N.H. is out and in time it will be a civil case brought by her kids that break this thing open.
It’s sad how a murder case is unsolved because the pigs don’t do their job right. Then go home to eat dinner,relax and be with their pig families and not give a shit about the murder case ..Or the families of the victim. But ah. You shall pay your dues. Every dog has his day. It takes time.
Its so difficult to know that this case still remains unsolved. Why wasnt the FBI asked to come into NH to get to the bottom of Stacy Burns Murder. Regardless of this being a Cold Case ,and the Crime scene being contaminated Forensics has come a long way. I dont buy the Active Case scenario and the NH Law Enforcement involved should hide their heads in shame for DROPPING THE BALL. Is this a Political Sweep under the rug case ? Lets not hurt the tourist trade by opening old wounds ? Well for the BURNS CHILDREN my heart goes out to them. Ed Burns might have been a Hot Headed Irishman but if youve ever met a Maritime Marine they have the forearms of Popeye and could snap a Mans neck like a twig. Jim Vitum is a strange guy confronting Stacy and her date saying HE THOUGHT it was to early for her to be dating after she broke up with him. Really ? and he was with her the night she was murdered,somehow talking his way into watching a movie with Stacy and her Kids. Why wasnt this adressed ,and after she was killed he walked into the Police Dept saying your gonna think i killed Stacy. I believe certain peoples names were going to be mentioned ..people that either are in politics or Law Enforcement that might have been involved with Stacy not implying they killed her at all ,but for this case to go this long without resolution is Suspicious at best.
A third-grader could’ve solved this “mystery” murder.
It’s a shame the judge didn’t renew the restraining order, and that Stacey didn’t have greater physical protection on an hourly basis (who can afford such a thing?) especially in a such a clear-cut, high-risk case. Lundy Bancroft = abusers aren’t mentally ill. They KNOW what they are doing and believe they have a RIGHT to do it. They are NEVER sorry, and are angered by any motion on their victims’ part to separate.
May the judicial system begin treating “domestic violence” (that soft, politically polite phrase) as the violent crime it really is, with punishments, penalties, and jail time that would be seen if the attacker and victim were strangers.