The First and Last Murder

Theresa Reed was found dead in her Plymouth, N.H. apartment on September 6, 1991. Autopsy results showed that Theresa died of multiple stab wounds.
Jason Mercado looks at this unusual cold case.

Transcript

On September 6th, 1991. At 52 Highland Street Plymouth, NH.
The body of Theresa was found dead. The autopsy would later show 
the death was due to multiple stab wounds.
Music: Softly Villainous
This Is Gone Cold New Hampshire. I’m Jason Mercado
Music: Softly Villainous
The First and The Last Murder
Now before we get completely into the story, I want you to understand 
how this case became a cold case. 
Here’s Senior Assistant Attorney general Ben Agati from NH’s Cold Case 
Unit to explain what they do and how the process works.
22:00 “for a case to go cold it really has to have a time period of 2 
years (of) no new tips, no new leads, no new investigative avenues 
that can be pursued.”
Music: Softly Villainous

The population of Plymouth is small with just under 7,000 people. 

However, in 1991 the population was even smaller with just under 

6,000 people and it’s only 28.6 square miles. Many people would say its

surprising that something like this would happen. Especially to 

someone like Theresa Reed.

Theresa Reed was an assistant registrar for Plymouth state college. She 

was loved by all and was described as someone who was great be 

around. she was loved by all who met her especially her students, and 

she loved them just as much. 

Reed lived on a road that connected to a fire station and a hospital, 

both only being a minute or two away by car. Although there’s a 

hospital nearby there still isn’t much traffic flow. There wasn’t much 

else near her apartment except for other houses or apartments. Which 

might raise the question of how none of the neighbors heard a thing.

Music: softly villainous

The night of Reeds Murder it is unclear what she was doing at the time 

of the murder..

 What we do know is that her murderer was attempting a robbery 

when Reed noticed him.

Sound: Rummaging through stuff

He was startled when Reed noticed him… he panicked.. and murdered 

her.

Music

Police quickly had a suspect.

His Name was Craig Conkey.

Music: Softly Villainous 

Craig Conkey was a tall white man with a good head of hair parted to 

the left and a mustache just short of being a handlebar mustache. He 

stood out in a crowd.He had sideburns that went down to his earlobes. 

His eyes… cold and dark…sending a chill down your back when you look

into them. He was also a little hunched over when he stood up. 

Eventually it was decided that Conckey was not the murderer, 

 and he was never convicted.

Music: Scalcairn

In 1996 conkey’s name would become known again as he was charged 

for the rape and murder of Lou Sale. 

He would then plead guilty in 2009 to the murder of Kathleen Dempsey 

in 1992. Dempsey like Reed was in her home when she caught Conkey 

trying to rob her and was stabbed 17 time

 This was interesting because the way Dempsey’s death was very

similar to Reeds death.

Music: Scalcairn

Conkey’s murder convictions were prosecuted in Massachusetts. 

In an article by Bennington Banners (Feb 14) He finally told 

investigators in 2012 that he has stabbed Reed multiple times with a six

inch blade after he panicked when she saw him. Also in that same 

article Theresa Reeds father Joseph Reed said “It is a happy day to 

know that finally closure is coming to this case, although I don’t know 

what closure is.”

Conkey Now bald will be serving the rest of his life in prison.

I never got the opportunity to meet the Reeds, but I did get to hear a 

little bit about them from Joelle Donnelly Wiggins, the victim advocate 

for New Hampshire’s cold case unit. She works directly with families 

during their most challenging moments: 

13:39 “Tess’s family… such a sweet family that’s just like wholesome, 

wonderful family that never ever gave up hope. I will never forget 

going to their house and sitting down with them, small old cape New 

Hampshire style, wood stove.”

She said the reeds had waited for a long time and had adapted to this 

life without knowing the murderer and without getting closure to this 

case.

14:01 “Sitting there around the wood stove with them and giving 

them the news that we had found who had killed tess.”

She talked about how much of a relief it was for them to finally know 

what happen and have the closure they’ve long waited for.

In the end It’s hard to understand How Conkey was able to get away 

the first case and for it to be the last case solved. If he’d been convicted

the first time would the other crimes have ever been committed. This 

wouldn’t even have been a cold case, but instead the family of Theresa 

read waited years get closure to this case. Now they can finally breathe 

a sigh of relief. 

Tease

Nex time on Gone Cold New Hampshire

Lilly McCormack looks at the Unjust story of Carrie Moss a

teenager who disappears in the 80s and a family who’s still waiting for 

answers