New photo, renewed plea for leads in Stacey Burns cold case

WOLFEBORO — State criminal investigators are renewing calls for help from the public in seeking information regarding the 2009 murder of a Wolfeboro woman whose case ran cold.

Attorney General John Formella and the Cold Case Unit issued a renewed request for assistance on Friday morning, seeking information on the killing of Stacey Burns. Burns, who Formella described as a “loving mother of five” children, was apparently killed 16 years ago.

“This remains an open homicide investigation. We have not forgotten Stacey, and we will not stop until justice is served — for her, her children, and the community that continues to grieve her loss,” Formella wrote in a news release. “Even after all these years, one tip could make the difference.”

The Cold Case Unit of the New Hampshire Department of Justice investigates missing persons cases and unidentified remains which may have resulted from homicidal violence. Seeking to provide answers and justice for families and victims, they investigate, attempt to resolve and prosecute offenders, when possible.

According to the NH DOJ, a cold case is defined as any unsolved homicide or suspected homicide committed more than five years ago — which has no significant leads and is also no longer being actively investigated by the initial investigative unit — based on a lack of investigative leads or workload. 

As of Monday afternoon, there were 128 open cold cases in New Hampshire, according to a running list kept by the Cold Case Unit, and another 11 closed cold cases. Of the 128 open cold cases, 10 are located in Lakes Region towns and cities: Two in Laconia, one in Franklin, two in Plymouth and one each in Meredith, Loudon, Sanbornton, Alton, Gilmanton, Gilford, and the Burns case in Wolfeboro. 

Burns, a 41-year-old school nurse, was found stabbed to death at her home on North Main Street on May 10, 2009, which happened to be Mother’s Day. Several of her friends and two of her children were apparently sleeping nearby at the time of her killing. 

Burns was discovered by her 15-year-old son the next morning. 

Although an extensive investigation was conducted — including thousands of hours of work and numerous interviews — no arrests were made, according to Formella. 

To accompany the renewed plea made by her family, a new, never-before-seen family photograph of Burns was released Friday morning. It’s a personal image Formella said “portrays her as a devoted mother, sister, friend”, and her family hopes the public will be moved by it emotionally and somebody will come forward with any information, even if they think it may be insignificant. 

“We are disappointed that this marks another year that our mother was tragically taken from us, with no clear progress in her case,” a statement made by family members reads. “We will continue to hope for the justice she deserves.” 

Anyone with information about the murder of Burns is urged to contact the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at 800-525-5555 or coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.