1 month later, no charges, no suspects IDed in South Main homicide

LACONIA — It has been a month since John Anderson was found stabbed to death in his South Main Street apartment, and while nobody has been taken into custody, Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield said he does not believe there is a threat to the public.

“I cannot comment on a person of interest, but I don’t think there is a threat to the public at this time,” Canfield said Thursday.

The Attorney General’s Office and the state Major Crimes Unit are leading the investigation, and Canfield deferred other comments to them. Michael Garrity, public information officer for the attorney general, confirmed the investigation into the homicide continues.

“We have no new public updates to provide at this time as our investigation remains open and ongoing,” Garrity wrote in an email on Thursday.

Anderson, 62, was found dead in his South Main Street apartment on April 14, and an autopsy determined his cause of death was homicide, by stab wounds to the neck. City police officers found his body when they were conducting a wellness check at his apartment.

The Attorney General’s Office and State Police have not said whether a weapon has been recovered, or if they have any suspects or persons of interest.

The body of 58-year-old Linda Dionne was found at her home that same day, April 14, and an autopsy confirmed the cause of her death was homicide, by strangulation. Her son, 32-year-old Christopher Garon, also at the home, was charged with second-degree homicide. Police say they do not believe the two homicides are related.

On April 21, State Police served a search warrant on Cottonwood Trail in Gilford. Assessing records show the home is owned by John and Carol Anderson.

Two weeks after Anderson’s body was found, on April 30, investigators asked for the public’s help in sending video footage of anyone in the 200 block of South Main from 1:40 to 3:40 p.m., on April 13.

Investigators asked any “person, business, property owner, or delivery driver, who lived, worked, or traveled through Laconia” during that two-hour period to provide video of the intersection of South Main and Cottage streets.

They also requested footage of anyone traveling south to the Route 3 Bypass, along Belmont Road/Route 106; Province Road/Route 107; South Main; Province Street; Hounsell Avenue; and Route 3.

Canfield said Thursday his officers continue to work closely with the Attorney General’s Office and Major Crime Unit, and are still looking for video.

Anyone with information or video can call the State Police tip line at 603-MCU-TIPS, or call the Laconia detective unit at 603-524-5252.

Tips can also be sent to Laconia Police by texts with the keyword LACONIA and the tip to 847411, or through an online form at laconianh.gov/873/Submit-a-Tip.