Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall announce, on behalf of the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, a renewed appeal for public assistance in the unsolved homicide of Louise Chaput, coinciding with the anniversary of her death.
On November 22, 2001, Louise Chaput, age 52, of Sherbrooke, Québec, was found deceased off the Glen Boulder Trail in Pinkham’s Grant. She had traveled to New Hampshire for a short hiking trip and was last seen on the afternoon of November 15, 2001, near the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Joe Dodge Lodge. An autopsy determined that she died of stab wounds, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Ms. Chaput’s vehicle, a silver Ford Focus, was located two days earlier at the Direttissima Trailhead, but several of her personal belongings, including a dark blue Kanuk sleeping bag, a blue backpack with a Canadian insignia, and her car keys were never recovered.
As the anniversary of Louise’s death is observed, her daughter, Constance, expressed the family’s ongoing hope for answers:
“Thinking of my mom today brings back the immense void her loss left in our lives. I was only ten years old when she was taken from me. She was a devoted mother, a psychologist who cared for vulnerable people, and someone whose love of life was contagious. We still don’t know who committed this irreparable act. If anyone remembers anything—no matter how small—please come forward. It could finally help bring us the truth.”
The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit continues to actively investigate the case and is particularly interested in hearing from individuals who hiked in the Pinkham Notch region on November 15, 2001, or who were part of organized hiking groups, clubs, or informal hiking meetups active in the area during that period. The Unit also encourages anyone who may have participated in early online hiking forums or listservs discussing conditions in the White Mountains in late 2001 to contact investigators. Even a small recollection may help clarify Ms. Chaput’s movements and interactions that day.
“The passage of time has not diminished our resolve to find out what happened to Louise Chaput. We know someone out there saw something, heard something, or encountered something that can help us understand her final hours,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, New Hampshire Cold Case Unit Chief. “Even the smallest detail could provide the break that brings justice for Louise and peace for her family.”
The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit urges anyone with information to come forward. All tips can remain anonymous.
New Hampshire Cold Case Unit
Email: coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov
Phone: (603) 271-2663