PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Attorney General John Formella said it was good for the Berlin Police Department to “engage in some self reflection” and to acknowledge multiple failures in the case that led to the murder of Sandra Marisol Fuentes Huaracha last July and the suicide of her estranged husband. And while we cannot bring the 25-year-old woman back, her experience is treated as a learning experience for the state’s law enforcement and the courts, he said.
The state’s chief law enforcement officer told Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the five-member Executive Council Wednesday that he was disappointed it took so long to report to the public.
“I also understand that when there are personnel reviews involved,” Formella said, and “employees are entitled to due process,” but the delay was troublesome to the public who wanted answers.
The report indicates that the internal probe was completed last October but could not be released to the public until personnel matters were resolved, which they have been.
Two of the officers are no longer with the Berlin Police department.
The woman had gone to the police to report her husband Michael Gleason Jr. had raped her, beat her and stole her money. He was released on $5,000 bail. She received a restraining order keeping him from her home and police removed more than 20 weapons from the home.
She called police to report violations of the restraining order but they were not followed up and two days before her murder, police received a report from a friend of Gleason that he was considering suicide and murdering her.
The department responded by calling Gleason who said he did not know the individual making a report and that he did not need help, and that was the end of the matter.
On July 6, 2025, Fuentes Huaracha went to work where her husband was hiding and killed her and then himself.
Since the murder/suicide the state conducted its own study which found faults and made recommendations many of which are now being implemented.
The state also has a new domestic violence review committee and Formella said it will be meeting with Berlin Police following its report issued last Friday afternoon and its first annual report is due out in October.
Another day-long meeting is planned for another case, Formella said.
Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, who asked Formella his reaction to the report, said while he appreciated the chief’s apology, he wished they apologized to the family.
“There are a lot of lessons to be learned. Berlin police department needs a lot of help,” Kenney said, and he said he hoped it comes from his department and police standards and training. He called it a premeditated murder.
“Our police stations and departments across the state need to learn from this case,” he said. “It needs to be taught at the police academy.”
“She was out there by herself in so many ways…police officers have got to get the training.”
Kenney said he wished the new bail law was in place at the time of the arrest and that alleged perpetrators who are a danger “can stay in jail a few days” until they can be seen by a judge.
“I hope the new judges read that story about Marisol,” Kenney said.
“I know Councilor (Janet) Stevens, R-Rye, (Karen) Liot Hill, D-Lebanon and the governor are going to bring this case and others that are relevant,” to the attention of authorities.
Councilor Stevens, a Rye Republican who has been outspoken on domestic violence issues across the state, has filed a right to know request for more details from the Berlin Police which are not in the report. (See related story.)
“We need to continue to educate,” Kenney said.
Formella said to the North Country councilor “you are spot on. We try to make sure ….everyone learns from this case. We can’t bring Marisol back but we can honor her by at least learning from this case.”
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER ASKS FOR MORE MONEY FOR FUEL
Commissioner of DOT David Rodrigue came before the council to ask for more money for fuel. The price of gas has gone up $1.50 a gallon on average since the war began in Iran.
Councilor Hill said it is a serious concern and comes at a time when the state is not able to fully fund the state’s 10-year highway construction plan.
One request that was approved was to accept and expend fuel sales revenue in Fuel Distribution in the amount of $1.2 million and to authorize and expend municipal fuel sales revenue in municipal fuel in the amount of $2.74 million.
Another was to authorize the DOT’s division of finance to transfer $1.28 million from the highway surplus account to fund fuel purchases.
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REFORMS UPDATE
A biennial report on the Human Rights Commission which outlined progress since an audit last year was submitted to the council. Ray Pinard, chair of the HRC addressed the council and answered questions.
Pinard said he was happy to report that there is progress and that case time is running faster with 20 to 22 months to process. The council confirmed two new commissioners, Wednesday allowing for a full complement of seven.
They have also hired all investigators that the state has funded and that should help the backlog.
Councilor Stevens congratulated the leadership for progress and gave them a standing ovation.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES/COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS/EMS HONORED
The community college system of New Hampshire was honored by the governor for their early college programs which enable high school students from 100 schools to take college courses to help them prepare and save money on college credits. The governor proclaimed May Early College Month.
The Community Action Programs throughout the state were also honored for helping every granite stater to access resources they need to thrive. They help 102,000 individuals statewide.
Also honored were the emergency medical service workers statewide with this being EMS Providers Week in New Hampshire.
Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester, said he has personal experience of the importance of the work done after suffering a massive heart attack last November. There are about 285,000 EMS calls they respond to each year.
RENEE BLACKEN HONORED
Renee Blacken of Bethlehem was also honored for rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean completing the 3,200 mile Atlantic Dash in 65 days. At 43, she is the oldest American woman to accomplish the feat. She did that in support of mental health recovery. Outdoor Adventuring for Good, is her cause. Every human being, she said, should have access to skills to thrive.
“Our lowest moments do not define who we are, ” she said.
NEW PARKS DIRECTOR CONFIRMED
Shawn Hamilton was unanimously confirmed by the Executive Council to be the new director of the N.H. Division of Parks and Recreation at Wednesday’s Governor and Council meeting. He replaces Brian Wilson.
Attending the meeting, he said he would start work Thursday, thanked the council for their support and said he plans to have his hiking boots on most days at work.
Councilor Kenney said Hamilton will be a “huge asset” for state parks. Gov. Ayotte said after the vote in a statement that “for the past 90 years, New Hampshire State Parks have been a point of tremendous pride for Granite Staters and a critical part of protecting our natural beauty…Shawn Hamilton has the experience, out-of-the box thinking and passion for the outdoors that we need in our next Parks director. I look forward to working with him to keep our parks thriving for residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come.”
“One of the missions of the Division is to provide New Hampshire’s citizens and guests with outstanding recreational, educational and inspirational experiences and I’m proud to accept the lead role for that important responsibility,” said Hamilton. “My background and career history with New Hampshire State Parks will allow me to hit the ground running and get right down to the business of creating authentic outdoor experiences for people that will last a lifetime.”
Most recently, Hamilton served as chief customer officer for a software company that provides management tools for outdoor recreation facilities, an experience that has allowed him to evaluate programs and systems from state park systems across the country.
LANDAFF DAM TO BE REMOVED
The council approved a NH State Conservation Committee request to help remove a dam on the Connecticut River in Landaff to help native fish migrate. The $34,788 was approved for the Wild Amo Dam Removal as part of the Connecticut River Watershed Council effort.
ENERGY/WEATHER ASSISTANCE GRANTS APPROVED
Jared Chicoine, commissioner for the Department of Energy, presented a number of contracts for weatherization and energy efficiency projects. In addition to extending federal grants to community action groups, projects were approved for the Warren School District, the Lincoln Woodstock Cooperative schools, the Colebrook School District, Berlin public schools, and the Ashland School District.
AERIAL FISH STOCKING AND ACID RAIN ANALYSIS
From dropping fish to collecting water samples, the council approved $31,500 to the helicopter company Joe Brigham Inc. of Pembroke to carry out aerial stocking of fish in remote, high elevation ponds but also collect water samples there which will look at acid rain deposition.
EXOTIC AQUATIC PLANT GRANTS EXTENDED
Just in time for summer, the council approved a number of grants to help control exotic aquatic plants including one for the Monomonac Lake Property Association in Rindge, Big Island Pond, Long Pond, Milton Three Ponds, Angle Pond, Baptist Pond, Swain’s Pond, Balch Lake, Namaske Lake, Lake Winnisquam, Chance Pond, Pawtuckaway Lake, and Powwow Pond.
LWCF GRANTS AMENDED
Interim Commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Adam Crepeau said an initial lack of resources and lack of internal tracking delayed contracts for Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for Concord, Lebanon, Gorham and Goshen. The council approved extending the completion date for a year from Sept. 30, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026.