Listen Live
CHARLESTOWN, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) More than half a century after 15-year-old Joanne Dunham vanished on her way to school, New Hampshire investigators are once again actively pursuing justice in a case that has haunted the Upper Valley since 1968.
Dunham disappeared on the morning of June 11, 1968, last seen walking from her home at Raiche Mobile Homes in Charlestown to catch the school bus. She never arrived. Her body was found the next day on a secluded dirt road off Quaker City Road in Unity—just over five miles from where she was last seen. The cause of death: asphyxiation.
Now, on the 57th anniversary of her murder, the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is reopening the investigation with new momentum. According to a June 11 announcement from Attorney General John M. Formella, the Cold Case Unit is working with the State Police Major Crime Unit to re-examine evidence, conduct fresh interviews, and pursue leads that may have been overlooked or unavailable in earlier decades.
“This case is not just about solving a crime. It’s about standing with Joanne’s family and honoring her memory.” said Todd Flanagan, Deputy Chief Investigator with the Department of Justice, who is now leading the renewed investigation.
While visiting Joanne’s gravesite earlier this year, Flanagan discovered it was still unmarked. The Cold Case Unit, in partnership with the DOJ’s Office of Victim/Witness Assistance and the state’s Victim’s Compensation Program, quickly stepped in to help. Thanks to contributions from Perry Brothers Monument Company and St. Mary’s Cemetery in Claremont, a headstone was installed in time for the anniversary of her death.
“These investigations are not just mechanical exercises—they are commitments of the heart,” Flanagan said.
Authorities believe answers may still be out there—and even one detail could be the key to solving the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Cold Case Unit at 1-800-525-5555 or email coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.