Executive Summary
- The NH Cold Case Unit identified Ernest Theodore Gable as the killer in the 1975 murder of Judy Lord.
- State Representative Bryan Morse was arrested by Nashua Police for nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images.
- Concord Police investigated a bomb threat at the building housing U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander’s office.
- NH Department of Corrections is seeking fugitive Nathaniel Michael Plaisted for probation violations.
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire law enforcement officials reported a significant week in public safety, headlined by the resolution of a fifty-year-old homicide investigation and the arrest of a newly elected state representative. The series of events, confirmed by state and local police logs, underscores an active period for the state’s judicial and investigative agencies.
According to a statement from the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, investigators have officially identified Ernest Theodore Gable as the perpetrator in the 1975 murder of Judy Lord. The Unit revealed that Gable, who was Lord’s next-door neighbor at the time, strangled, raped, and suffocated the victim inside her Concord Gardens apartment on May 20, 1975. Investigators noted that Gable used a sauna suit during the commission of the crime. This determination closes a case that has remained unsolved for half a century.
In a separate judicial development, the Nashua Police Department arrested State Representative Bryan Morse. Morse, a resident of Franklin who was elected in November 2024, has been charged with the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. Police records indicate the arrest occurred on Thursday following an investigation into the alleged privacy violations. Morse is currently raising funds for his legal defense.
Federal representatives in the state also faced security threats this week. According to Concord Police, officers and state troopers responded to a bomb threat at a downtown Concord building that houses the office of U.S. Representative Maggie Goodlander. The investigation necessitated the closure of North Main Street for approximately one hour on Friday night. Authorities cleared the scene after determining the area was safe.
Additionally, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections issued an alert for Nathaniel Michael Plaisted, a felon accused of absconding from supervision. Plaisted, previously convicted on a charge of being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, is considered armed and dangerous by state officials. In a separate emergency incident, fire crews responded to a two-alarm fire at the 1750 Taphouse in Bedford, where flames heavily damaged the restaurant on Route 101.
Investigative & Judicial Outlook
The successful closure of the Judy Lord investigation demonstrates the capability of modern forensic review to resolve historical crimes, reinforcing the mandate of Cold Case Units to pursue justice regardless of the passage of time. Conversely, the arrest of a sitting state representative and the security threat against a congressional office highlight the immediate challenges facing law enforcement regarding public integrity and official security. These incidents collectively stress the judicial system, requiring robust procedural handling for both historical capital crimes and contemporary criminal charges against public figures. It is important to note that State Representative Bryan Morse, Nathaniel Michael Plaisted, and all other individuals mentioned in connection with criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
