City officials in Concord are searching for answers in wake of last week’s double homicide of Stephen and Wende Reid, described by family as recently retired humanitarians who enjoyed the outdoors and being active.
The attorney general’s office has not provided any updates since Friday afternoon, but it’s possible more information could be released Monday.
At this point, it is unknown if there are any leads for a suspect, if anyone is in custody or whether or not this was a random attack.
Stephen and Wende Reid, a married couple in their 60s, went for a walk near their Concord home Monday and never returned.
Their bodies were found Thursday in a marshy area off the broken ground trails. Both died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the attorney general’s office.
The children and extended families of the couple released this statement Sunday night:
“The children and extended family of Steve and Djeswende (Wendy) Reid wish to express our sincere gratitude to the members of the Concord Police Department, the NH State Police, the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of the Attorney General, and NH Fish and Game for their extraordinary efforts over the last week in the investigation of the deaths of our loved ones.
“Steve served four years in the Peace Corps in West Africa right after college. He met his future wife and soulmate Wendy, who was from West Africa, while she was studying in Washington D.C. on an athletic scholarship. They bonded over their mutual love of adventure and fitness.
“Steve and Wendy had returned three years ago to his hometown of Concord to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Steve’s thirty-plus year career as an international development specialist in service to the world’s most vulnerable through USAID humanitarian projects could not have been made possible without the love, care and support of Wendy, who also helped recently-resettled refugees acclimate and thrive in the United States.
“As requested by the police, we ask for your support by providing any information that would be helpful to the ongoing investigation.
Lindsay and Brian Reid, and the Reid/Forey Families.”
During a press conference Friday, the attorney general’s office said there does not appear to be a threat to the general public.
However, Concord police warned residents to be vigilant.
News 9 spoke with long-time City Councilor Fred Keach, who said he has not heard of any added safety measures being put in place in wake of the tragedy but adds residents should feel safe.
“I come from a law enforcement background. I was a cop in Portland, Maine, for several years. And it’s very unusual that the victim of homicide doesn’t know the assailant,” Keach said. “I have a lot of confidence in our police department. There are multiple agencies investigating this. So it’s got the community’s full attention.”
There is no longer a scene near the broken ground trails. Authorities were out near the scene Saturday searching for evidence, but they are no longer there.
According to the Concord Police Department’s data, there was only one homicide in Concord in 2020, and a total of eight since 2016.
Previous coverage:
Comments