Step-Dad Wendell Noyes Faces Judge In Celina Cass Murder

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Jim Cole/AP Pool Photo

Prosecutor Jane Young, right, listens to the video arraignment from the county jail in Stewartstown, N.H. of Wendell Noyes in district court in Berlin, N.H. Tuesday June 21, 2016. Noyes was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Celina Cass. The girl was reported missing from her home July 26, 2011. Her body was recovered from the Connecticut River six days later. (AP Photo/Jim Cole/POOL)(AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Celina Cass, 11.

Celina Cass, 11.

By Barbara Tetreault
The Berlin Daily Sun

BERLIN — Just a month short of five years since she was reported missing, the stepfather of 11-year-old Celina Cass has been charged with second-degree murder and arraigned in 1st Circuit Court in Berlin.

Wendell Noyes, 52, of West Stewartstown was Celina’s stepfather at the time of her disappearance on July 26, 2011.

The competency of Noyes to stand trial for killing Celina was raised in his arraignment in Berlin’s 1st Circuit Court on Tuesday. The state has charged him with knowingly causing the death of Celina “by submerging her in the Connecticut River.”

Because the charge is a felony, Judge Paul Desjardins told Noyes, who appeared on video from the Coos County Jail in West Stewartstown, he could not accept a plea. He also told Noyes the charge carries a possible life sentence and that he is ineligible for bail.

Louisia Cass is seen in district court Tuesday, June 21, 2016, in Berlin, N.H. Wendell Noyes was arraigned and was charged with killing Cass' daughter Celina Cass. The girl was reported missing from her home July 26, 2011. Her body was recovered from the Connecticut River six days later. (AP Photo/Jim Cole/POOL)

Louisia Cass is seen in district court Tuesday, June 21, 2016, in Berlin, N.H. Wendell Noyes was arraigned and was charged with killing Cass’ daughter Celina Cass. The girl was reported missing from her home July 26, 2011. Her body was recovered from the Connecticut River six days later. (AP Photo/Jim Cole/POOL)

Desjardins attempted to schedule a probable cause hearing for June 27, but Public Defender Marcie Hornick said her client was deemed incompetent to stand trial on two misdemeanor charges last fall and he has been in the New Hampshire Hospital in Concord since December.

Hornick said the court gave Noyes one year to undergo further evaluation before answering for the misdemeanors and that he is only seven months into that year.

“We are still in that window and I have a genuine concern with the defendant’s competency,” said Hornick.

She requested the court refrain from scheduling a probable cause hearing until another evaluation is completed. Hornick requested that this case be joined with the prior cases and she said she would file a motion requesting a follow-up evaluation.

Associate Attorney General Jane Young told the court that the state agreed that competency is an issue. Young requested access to the previous evaluations and told the court the state retained an expert.

After the hearing, Young said authorities could not release any more details about the case or what led to Noyes’ arrest at this time. She said, however, that she expected the arrest affidavit would be unsealed within the next 30 days. Young said her office and state police have continued to work on the case over the past five years.

“This case has stayed on our desks. Celina has stayed in our hearts,” said Young.

After Celina was reported missing, a massive search effort was launched with more than 100 law-enforcement personnel looking for the girl. Six days later, on Aug. 1, 2011, Celina’s body was recovered from the Connecticut River, near a dam about a half-mile from her home.

The investigation into Celina’s murder has remained active for the past five years.

Noyes was married to Celina’s mother, Louisia Cass. In addition to Celina, the couple lived in an apartment at 863 Washington St., West Stewartstown, with Celina’s 13-year-old sister and the son of one of Louisia’s former boyfriends.

Shortly after Celina was discovered murdered, Noyes and Louisia Cass separated and are no longer together. Court documents in the case indicated Noyes has a history of psychological problems.

Earlier this year, investigators from N.H. State Police Major Crime Unit visited Noyes’ home, leading local residents to be hopeful that a break in the case had occurred.