Governor Kelly Ayotte and Attorney General John Formella announce an expansion of the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, increasing the number of New Hampshire Department of Justice (NH DOJ) Investigators assigned to the Unit from one part-time position to two full-time roles. This expansion was made possible because of additional resources that Governor Ayotte proposed in her first biennial budget and that were adopted by the Legislature.
“As a former murder prosecutor and Attorney General, I know how painful it is for families when a case goes unsolved,” said Governor Ayotte. “This is about delivering justice, no matter how much time has passed. That’s why I included expanding the Cold Case Unit in my budget. By giving law enforcement the tools and support they need, we can pursue these cases with the urgency and care they deserve. I’m proud New Hampshire is the safest state in the nation, and we intend to keep it that way by continuing to invest in public safety.”
“This expansion strengthens our ability to focus even more New Hampshire Department of Justice resources on the Granite State’s cold cases,” said Attorney General Formella. “By dedicating additional full-time investigators within our Office, we reaffirm our commitment to victims, their families, and the pursuit of justice, regardless of how much time has passed. We are grateful to Governor Ayotte and the Legislature for including funding for these additional resources in the latest biennial budget.”
These positions represent a substantial increase in the NH DOJ’s in-house investigative contribution to the Cold Case Unit, which continues to operate as a multi-agency effort involving dedicated counterparts at the New Hampshire State Police, and in coordination with local, county, and federal law enforcement partners. This collaborative, multi-agency structure remains central to the Unit’s approach—combining investigative and legal expertise to advance cases that have long gone unsolved.
The NH DOJ’s longtime Deputy Chief Investigator, Todd Flanagan, has been assigned a new full-time role dedicated exclusively to cold case investigations. A veteran New Hampshire detective with years of leadership at the Department of Justice and a former investigator with the Concord Police Department, Flanagan is widely respected for his success in reopening and solving complex cold cases. He will serve alongside Investigator Bruce Foremny, a seasoned law enforcement professional with more than 40 years of experience, including specialized cold case work in Maricopa County, Arizona. Foremny, who had been working part-time with the Cold Case Unit, is now transitioning into a full-time role.
Leading the Unit is Senior Assistant Attorney General Chris Knowles, a veteran prosecutor with extensive experience in complex homicide cases. Before joining the NH DOJ, he served as District Attorney in Bethel, Alaska, overseeing a large prosecutorial team across a rural jurisdiction approximately the size of Oregon. He is joined by Assistant Attorney General Rachel Harrington, who has been a member of the Cold Case Unit since 2019. With more than 20 years of prosecutorial experience in New Hampshire, Harrington has played a key role in advancing and prosecuting some of the state’s most difficult unresolved cases.
The Department of Justice defines a cold case homicide as one that is more than five years old, remains unsolved, and is no longer actively investigated due to limited leads or resources. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Cold Case Unit at (603) 271-2663 or submit a tip online at www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/cold-case.