Utilizing advancements in DNA technology and forensic genealogy, authorities in New Hampshire have finally resolved the 1981 murder of 23-year-old Laura Kempton. The perpetrator, Ronney James Lee, was identified through DNA analysis of evidence collected from the crime scene. Tragically, Lee died of a drug overdose in 2005, precluding any legal proceedings.
Kempton, a beauty school student, was discovered deceased in her Portsmouth apartment in September 1981. Police found an electrical cord around her ankles and a phone cord around her neck and shoulders. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be head trauma.
Over four decades, investigators pursued countless leads, but the case remained unsolved until 2022. The Portsmouth Police Department, collaborating with various forensic labs and Identifinders International, employed cutting-edge genetic genealogy techniques to analyze DNA samples from the scene. This finally led them to Ronney James Lee in 2023.
At the time of the murder, Lee was a 21-year-old security officer. While Lee's family has been informed of the findings, authorities have chosen not to publicly disclose their identities.
Although the case is now closed, the inability to bring charges against Lee brings a sense of bittersweet resolution. Attorney General John Formella expressed hope that this conclusion offers some measure of closure to Kempton's family and the community, emphasizing the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to pursuing justice in cold cases. The Kempton family expressed their gratitude to the Portsmouth Police Department for their tireless efforts over the years.
