Missing Newport Men Appear To Be Victims Of Tragic Accident

BOSCAWEN, NH — On Thursday, police located a motorcycle and two deceased people in an area of Route 4 in Boscawen.

Newport Police Chief Brent Wilmot said the motorcycle matches the one being driven by Jerry Proper, 69, and his grandson, Cody Pillsbury, 22, who had not been seen since Labor Day.

The motorcycle was described as a Honda GL18R1 Trike motorcycle.

Wilmot said the positive identification of the victims must be completed by the Office of The NH Medical Examiner — but he has no reason to believe it is not the two Newport men.

The men went for a motorcycle ride and never returned home. Family and friends put out notices on social media and the news media pleading for people to help search for them.

Boscawen Police Chief Kevin Wyman said information from a cell phone is what brought them to the general area of where the motorcycle was found. Wyman said Andover Police Chief Joseph Mahoney was following up on leads and going to businesses in the area to view surveillance. While en route to one of the locations at approximately 5 p.m., he saw an area in high grass and heavily wooded area that he checked. When checking, he located the motorcycle and two victims.

Several members of a crew assembled to remove the motorcycle and victims from the wooded area.

Wyman said that it appears to be a tragic accident that did not involve any vehicle other than the motorcycle. Wilmot said the New Hampshire State Police accident investigation team was called to assist at the scene.

The area of Route 4 where the motorcycle was found is at the base of a steep incline on the roadway and near the Salsbury line. The area has large rocks just off the road that are hidden behind high grass. The area behind the grass is “swampy,” according to Wyman, and heavily wooded. He said that due to drought conditions the area which is usually swamp is currently dry.

Police said once positive identification is made more information will be released, but it appears to be a tragic accident.

Wilmot thanked members of the public and the media for their assistance in locating the missing men.

NewsCam 603 posted this video of officials and a tow truck moving the tricycle from the scene.