Missing Barnstead Woman Found Dead After Search In Wooded Area

BARNSTEAD, NH — An organized search in Barnstead Saturday looking for Ashley Turcotte, 31, led to the discovery of her body a short distance away from where she was last seen.

Searchers from fire departments, police, New Hampshire National Guard, and conservation officers from NH Fish and Game started at the location where she was last seen. They spread out, searching further into wooded areas.

The Barnstead woman has been missing for more than two months and has been the focus of multiple searches. Police continued distributing information to the public, including postings with her photos and information gathered through their investigation.

Turcotte's body was discovered in a heavily wooded section near New and Shackford Corner roads, roughly half a mile from where her car was left parked in the Barnstead Town Hall parking lot on Jan. 4, according to Fish and Game Lt. Adam Cheney.

Barnstead Police Chief Paul Poirier said an autopsy will be conducted next week to determine the cause and manner of death, but no foul play is expected. Sources say she was found wearing the same clothes that she was wearing when she was last seen on video.

Her silver Hyundai Elantra contained her phone, wallet, backpack, and keys, which had been previously located inside her car. Turcotte was seen at her home the day she went missing and was also seen on camera shopping at a Dollar General store.

Nearly 70 searchers were performed Barnstead police, Barnstead firefighters, Fish and Game, New Hampshire State Police, Belknap County Sheriff's Office, New Hampshire National Guard volunteers, and Lakes Region and Pemigewasset Valley search and rescue teams.

Lt. Cheney told Patch with the snow gone and leaves not on the trees, today offered ideal conditions for the search. In previous searches, they were hampered by snow cover, which would have covered her body.