A man has been arrested on a murder charge after police responded to a suspicious death at a Walmart in Somersworth, New Hampshire, on Saturday morning.
Attorney General John M. Formella announced the arrest of 52-year-old Brian Roberge, of Somersworth, in connection to the death of 79-year-old Jan VanTassell, of Center Ossipee.
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Authorities say they responded to a report of an assault at the Walmart on Waltons Way around 11:19 p.m. Friday and found VanTassel unresponsive with visible head and facial injuries. First responders determined he was dead.
Roberge was taken into custody and is being charged with second-degree murder.
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The attorney general said Sunday that VanTassel's autopsy had been completed and determined the cause of death was due to compressional asphyxia; the manner of death was homicide.
According to the attorney general, the compressional asphyxia autopsy finding is consistent with eyewitness accounts that Roberge was allegedly straddling VanTassel’s chest for several minutes while hitting him in the head and face.
Roberge is expected to be arraigned Monday in Strafford County Superior Court. It was not immediately clear if he had obtained an attorney.
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Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact New Hampshire State Police, Det. Sgt. Justine Rowe, at 603-223-4381.
