New Hampshire Cold Case from 1975 Solved

A cold case involving a violent murder in New Hampshire has finally reached a resolution, identifying the primary suspect as the killer. However, no arrests have been made due to a flawed FBI report that complicated the investigation.

Judith Lord, just 22 years old, was discovered dead in her apartment in Concord on May 20, 1975, several months after she had moved in, according to the state attorney general, John M. Formella.

The building manager stumbled upon Lord’s body while looking for overdue rent. She was found in bed, which must have been quite a shock.

Meanwhile, her 20-month-old son was miraculously found alive and unharmed in his crib nearby.

An autopsy revealed that she had died from homicidal strangulation.

Evidence indicated a violent struggle; hair was found on her body and bed, along with semen on a towel that was still damp. This pointed to a disturbing scenario.

Investigators identified the main suspect as Judith’s neighbor, 24-year-old Ernest Theodore Gable.

Even though Gable was named a suspect, charges couldn’t be filed due to significant issues with forensic reporting done by the FBI in 1975. Formella explained that microscopic hair analysis led to incorrect conclusions, stating that Gable couldn’t have been involved.

Yet, there was contradictory evidence: Gable’s fingerprints were found at the crime scene, and multiple witnesses reported that Judith had expressed fear of him.

During their investigation, detectives learned that Judith had been anxious about both her husband, Gregory, and Gable due to their troubling advances.

Judith had told her sister she was particularly scared of the man living next door, who made inappropriate comments towards her.

She had moved into the Concord Gardens apartment complex with Gregory and their son after returning from Germany just three months prior.

Her husband had been stationed overseas and came back briefly for a vacation. Just sixteen days before Judith’s murder, she suffered an assault from Gregory, who was then arrested and pleaded guilty to simple assault.

After that, he relocated to his grandmother’s house, leaving Judith and their child behind.

Initially, Gregory was a prime suspect, but he was cleared thanks to alibis provided by his brother and grandmother.

After the incident, Judith left her nursing home job and was left in a vulnerable situation.

On the day before her death, she collected her last paycheck and spent time socializing with neighbors, returning home just before midnight. Shortly after, Gable’s wife reported hearing Judith’s voice while she was in the shower.

At around 12:50 a.m., screams were heard coming from Judith’s apartment, which later turned into noises reminiscent of sexual activity.

Following the murder, witnesses recounted alarming interactions between Judith and Gable, including an early morning knock on her door when he asked if she “wanted to party with me.” This kind of behavior raises serious red flags.

Despite the evidence, Gable was never charged with her murder. He was fatally stabbed nearly 13 years later in Los Angeles in February 1987.

If Gable were alive today, authorities believe he would face first-degree murder charges for intentionally ending Judith’s life during a sexual assault, as well as for the act of strangulation itself.

Formella expressed hope that this long-overdue resolution might finally provide peace to Judith’s family and the Concord community, emphasizing that cold cases often linger until all the truth comes to light.