Authorities investigating a suspicious death in Sandown, New Hampshire, say it is now being treated as a homicide and that an arrest has been made in the case.
The victim has been identified as 88-year-old Aline Irish, New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said in a release. An autopsy determined Aline Irish’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death was homicide.
Aline Irish’s 42-year-old grandson, Patrick Irish, has been arrested in her death and is facing alternative counts of second degree murder. Authorities allege Patrick Irish knowingly and recklessly caused his grandmother’s death by inflicting blunt force trauma to her head, under circumstances manifesting to an extreme indifference to the value of human life.
Officials say Patrick Irish was living at the 48 Phillipswood Rd. home with his grandmother at the time of her death.
Crime tape surrounded the property on Wednesday, and the State Police Major Crime Unit was parked in the driveway.
“It’s a quiet, you know, a peaceful neighborhood,” said neighbor Tom Guarini.
But that all changed early Wednesday morning.
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“I knew something was going on because there were lights everywhere and my understanding is they were searching for someone,” neighbor Kathy Kable said.
Kable told NBC10 Boston and NECN that Aline Irish lived alone for many years but that recently her grandson was living with her.
“I know that he was staying here because he was having some problems and she was trying to help him out,” Kable explained.
“She was just such a wonderful, wonderful person,” Kable added of Aline Irish. “I just can’t believe it.”
Patrick Irish is expected to be arraigned on Dec. 12 at the Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood. It’s unclear if he has an attorney.
The investigating remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Kelly Healey of the New Hampshire State Police at 603-628-8477.
