In a significant development, investigators have commenced a search in Newport, New Hampshire, connected to the investigation into multiple cold cases that have been associated with the notorious Connecticut River Valley serial killer. The search operation, authorized by court warrants, began on Tuesday morning in the Kelleyville neighborhood, with one of the locations being a residence on Ayers Street.

The scene in the Kelleyville neighborhood was marked by the presence of over a dozen vehicles parked along the dead-end street. Additionally, several trash bags were observed piled outside what appeared to be a barn. While it remains unclear whether the trash bags are related to the ongoing search, authorities have refrained from disclosing the specific cold case under investigation. However, sources have revealed that the search is linked to a series of unsolved killings that occurred in the Connecticut River Valley during the 1970s and 1980s.

Among the unsolved cases tied to Newport are the brutal murders of Bernice Courtemanche, aged 17, and Ellen Fried, aged 25, in the mid-1980s. Courtemanche's body was discovered on April 19, 1986, off Cat Hole Road, while Fried's skeletal remains were found on September 19, 1985, in a wooded area near the Sugar River in Kelleyville.

While more cases have been informally connected to a potential serial killer operating in the area, officials from the Cold Case Unit have previously indicated that they do not believe these cases are linked. However, due to the lack of resolution in any of the cases, a comprehensive investigation into any potential connections has not been possible.

Julie Murray, the sister of Maura Murray, a Massachusetts college student who went missing in New Hampshire in 2004, revealed that her family is aware of the ongoing search and maintains close contact with investigators. Although Maura Murray's disappearance has not been typically associated with the unsolved Connecticut River Valley killings from past decades, Julie Murray played a pivotal role in leading a group of families of victims in advocating for improved investigations into cold cases by the state back in 2023.

Jane Boroski, another victim whose case remains unsolved and has been informally tied to the Connecticut River Valley killings, confirmed that state police informed her about the Newport search's connection to the cold cases. Expressing her emotions, Boroski shared her surprise and said, "This was out of the blue today. I did not expect this. There have been so many people, there's been so many persons of interest over the years and no real suspects."

The search operation involves collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, New Hampshire Department of Justice investigators, the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit, Claremont police, and Newport police. Officials from the New Hampshire attorney general's office have reassured the public that the search poses no danger and is expected to continue throughout the day.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities have urged the public to respect the privacy of residents in the search area and to refrain from entering private properties. The search for physical evidence in Newport represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families in the long-standing unsolved Connecticut River Valley cold cases.