Two adults dead in Berlin murder-suicide, police report

CONCORD — Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Berlin Police Department Chief Jeff Lemoine announce that officials are currently investigating the suspicious deaths of an adult female and an adult male in Berlin, New Hampshire, that occurred this morning, Sunday, July 6.

At approximately 9:45 a.m., officers with the Berlin Police Department responded to the La Casita restaurant at 4 Hillside Ave. in Berlin in response to a 911 call for reported gunshots. Upon entering the business they discovered an employee, Sandra Marisol Fuentes Huaracha (age 25), deceased from apparent gunshot wounds behind the bar. Later, authorities discovered Michael Gleason, Jr. (age 50) inside one of the bathrooms having suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Both adults were pronounced deceased at the scene.

While the investigation is just beginning, there does not appear to be any threat to the general public in connection with these two deaths. Both Ms. Fuentes Huaracha and Mr. Gleason were engaged in a prior domestic relationship with one another. At this time authorities are investigating this as a likely murder and suicide.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available following autopsies scheduled to take place starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 7.

— Staff report, Berlin Sun