Thornton teen accused of killing sister indicted for 2nd degree murder

A 19-year-old Thornton man accused of shooting and killing his sister has been indicted on a pair of second-degree murder charges, as well as falsifying evidence. He is due to appear in Grafton Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 13 for a formal reading of his charges.

Logan Anderson, 19, was indicted by the Grafton County Grand Jury for second-degree murder, for knowingly causing the death of Leah Anderson by shooting her in the head with a gun on June 8. A second indictment was handed down for second-degree murder by recklessly causing his sister’s death by shooting under “circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

These are both special felony charges, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Anderson was also indicted for falsifying physical evidence when he “did alter, destroy, conceal, or remove” Leah Anderson’s cellphone. The indictment states he did it with intent of “impairing its availability in the investigation, and done by Anderson who knew an investigation was about to be instituted."

The indictments were signed off by Senior Assistant Attorney General Bethany Durand on Sept. 18.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt. Rather, it is a finding by a Grand Jury enough evidence of an alleged crime exists to bring the case to trial.

Thornton and Campton police responded to a call to Mad River Road, in Thornton, on the morning of June 8. Police found Leah Anderson with a gunshot wound to her head. She was taken to Speare Memorial Hospital, then med-flighted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon, where she died.

An affidavit shows the 911 call was made by Logan Anderson, who told police he shot his sister. He eventually turned himself into Thornton Police without incident.

The case is being prosecuted by Durand and Assistant Attorney General Joshua Speicher. Anderson is represented by Morgan Taggart-Hampton and Benjamin St. Pierre, of New Hampshire Public Defenders.

Anderson waived a formal reading of his charges on June 9, in Plymouth District Court, then waived rights to his probable cause hearing on June 17. He was indicted on Sept. 18. He has been ordered to remain in jail pending trial, at the Grafton County Department of Corrections.

Anderson is scheduled to appear for his arraignment in Grafton Superior Court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13.