Authorities Release Sketch Of Person Of Interest In Case Of Retired Couple Found Shot To Death In Woods

The case is ramping up to find who killed a retired New Hampshire couple who were found shot to death in the woods.

Stephen Reid, 67, and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid, 66, disappeared after leaving their Concord apartment for a walk near the Broken Ground Trails on the afternoon of April 18. Three days later, the married couple was found with “multiple gunshot wounds” not far from their home, prompting authorities to open a homicide investigation.

Now, authorities have published a sketch of a “person of interest” in hopes of identifying a man they believe is connected to the case, according to a joint statement by Attorney General John M. Formella and Concord Chief of Police Bradley Osgood. Investigators say the unidentified man was “seen in the vicinity of the shooting incident,” which was believed to be the day the couple disappeared.

The person of interest is described as a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, who stands at approximately 5’10” and is of medium build. He had short brown hair and was clean-shaven on the day of the shooting. He was seen wearing a dark blue jacket that possibly had a hood, khaki-colored pants, and a black backpack.

Djeswende Reid and Stephen Reid Photo: Concord NH Police Department

Authorities did not disclose how they came to learn about the unidentified man.

The Reids were described by police as “avid outdoors people” who frequently walked the trails around their Alton Woods apartment complex. They left on Monday, April 18, at around 2:22 p.m. and were never heard from again.

Concerned persons sounded the alarm when Stephen failed to show up for a “planned event” two days later.

On April 21, the victims’ bodies were discovered near the trails off Portsmouth Street in Concord in the early evening hour. The wooded area in which they were found was “in close proximity to the Marsh Loop Trail.”

Relatives and loved ones spoke out about the retired couple, telling reporters they were humanitarians who’d happily settled into retirement three years earlier after decades together.

“Steve served four years in the Peace Corps in West Africa right after college,” their family said in a statement. “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.”

On Tuesday, authorities also announced a time-limited reward totaling $33,500 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the killer or killers responsible: $20,000 was provided by an anonymous donor for information provided within 60 days; a separate donor is offering another $5,000; and the remainder of the reward was donated by the Concord Police Patrolman’s Association and Supervisors Association as well as the Retired New Hampshire State Police Troopers Association.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Concord Police Department at 1-603-225-8600 or the Concord Regional Crimeline at 1-603-226-3100.

Authorities say additional information will be released as it becomes available.