No more crime scene tape on South Main Street, homicide investigation continues

LACONIA — The police tape surrounding a house on the 200 block of South Main Street has been removed, and the area is no longer filled with police vehicles, but the investigation is continuing into the homicide of John Anderson a week after he was discovered deceased at the residence.

The body of Anderson, 62, was found at the residence on April 14, after Laconia Police performed a welfare check that morning. It was originally reported as a suspicious death, then turned to a homicide investigation within hours, according to Police Chief Matt Canfield. Homicide is defined as someone dying at the hands of another.

As of Monday afternoon, the investigation was ongoing and being led by the Attorney General’s Office.

State Department of Justice spokesperson Michael Garrity, as well as Canfield, declined to comment on specifics of the investigation.

“At this time, with our investigation active and ongoing, we have no new public updates to provide,” Garrity wrote in an email on Monday afternoon. “Additional information will be released as it becomes available while protecting the integrity of the investigation.”

Canfield confirmed the Attorney General’s Office is leading the investigation, and his department is working with them on the case.

“The Attorney General’s Office is the lead on all homicide investigations in the state,” Canfield said. “I can’t comment on the investigation itself, but we are continuing to work in collaboration — our detectives and our patrol.”

What was once an area of bustling police activity, the 200 block of South Main was vacated by the State Police Major Crimes Unit vehicle that was in the driveway for much of last week. The area had multiple police vehicles in front of the residence throughout the week — some marked and others not — and State Police were seen on the property on Thursday. On Monday, the police tape had been removed, and there were no police vehicles to be seen.

The Department of Justice has said there is no known threat to the public.

Last week, the City of Laconia was suddenly in the midst of two homicide investigations on the same day. Police were dispatched to Old Prescott Hill Road, also on April 14, where another homicide was discovered.

Linda Dionne, 58, was found dead there, and an autopsy showed the cause of her death was strangulation. Officers also discovered Christian Garon, 32, who was charged with second-degree murder. The DOJ has said there is no indication the two cases are related.

Murder charges are not common in Laconia. According to Laconia Police crime statistics, there have only been two murders in the city since 2015: one in 2019, and one in 2022.

Detectives are looking for information about what Anderson’s whereabouts and activities April 12-14, as well as any activity in the area of the 200 block of South Main.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the State Police tip line at 603-MCU-TIPS.