New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Father’s Murder After 20 Years
A man from New Hampshire is looking at a potential 24 years in prison after he has taken a guilty plea for the murder of his father, which occurred more than two decades ago.
Douglas Herlihy, now 40, confessed to killing his father when he was just 17 years old, as reported by the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
The relationship between Douglas and his father, Paul Herlihy, who was 50 at the time of his death, was reportedly fraught with past violence and encounters with law enforcement.
Paul Herlihy was discovered on August 27, 2003, during a welfare check conducted at the request of a family member.
Upon entering the home in Milford, New Hampshire, police noticed a significant presence of flies and a strong smell indicative of decomposition, according to court documents.
Paul’s body was located on the kitchen floor, wrapped in a carpet and covered with a blue tarp. Blood spatter was evident around the kitchen area, including on cabinets, the refrigerator, walls, and even the ceiling.
An autopsy revealed that he had died from blunt-force trauma, likely inflicted within four days leading up to the discovery of his body. The medical examiner noted injuries to his nose and jaw, skull fractures, and trauma to his voice box, suggesting he had been struck multiple times in the head.
Curiously, in the backyard, just outside Douglas’ bedroom window, officers found carpet and padding stained with blood. It appeared they had been pushed out of that window, which was open during the investigation. DNA tests indicated that the blood could belong to Paul Herlihy.
Inside Douglas’s bedroom, investigators discovered a closet door with a towel thrown over it. Beneath the towel, there was a message scrawled in large handwriting that said: “I WILL SEE YOU IN HELL.”
No definitive suspect for the murder had been identified at the time.
‘I beat my first body when I was 17’
In the wake of his father’s death, Douglas faced numerous legal troubles, including drug-related offenses and a stolen vehicle incident. After one arrest in 2020, he told an officer he was confident the charges would be dismissed.
“That’s what I do. I beat cases. I beat my first body when I was 17!” he reportedly boasted, which seemed to imply a history of violent behavior to the officer.
Despite this, Douglas consistently denied involvement in his father’s murder, referring investigators to his attorney when approached about the case in 2010.
Based on new findings, authorities issued an arrest warrant for him in June 2025. He was apprehended in Saugus, Massachusetts, and extradited back to New Hampshire.
Charged with two counts of second-degree murder and for falsifying physical evidence, Douglas negotiated a plea deal. This agreement mandates a sentence of 12 to 24 years for manslaughter, while suspending a 3½ to 7-year sentence for evidence tampering for 20 years.
The New Hampshire Attorney General, John M. Formella, emphasized that the quest for justice doesn’t fade with time, recognizing the diligent work of the investigators in the cold case.
Formella reassured the public that the Cold Case Unit and law enforcement would continue to pursue accountability and answers, no matter how long it takes. He praised those involved in resolving this case.
A sentencing hearing is set to occur in early 2027. Meanwhile, the Herlihy family has chosen to remain private and has opted not to engage with the media, as per the Cold Case Unit’s communications.
Douglas Herlihy’s attorney has yet to provide comments on the plea deal.
