Connecticut Man Accused Of Killing NH Trooper In Portsmouth Appears In Court

BRENTWOOD, NH — The Connecticut man who was at the wheel of a tractor-trailer that slammed into a New Hampshire State Police cruiser on Interstate 95 in October 2021, killing a trooper, appeared in court on Monday.

Jay Paul Medeiros, of Ashford, CT, following a several-month investigation into the incident, was indicted in 2022 by a grand jury on charges of negligent homicide and two counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon connected to the death of State Police Staff Sgt. Jesse Sherrill, a 20-year veteran of state police, was fatally injured in the crash, leaving behind his wife and two children.

Sherrill’s wife, family, friends, and a large contingency of New Hampshire State Police were on hand at the Rockingham County Superior Courthouse.

Medeiros, who has been out on bail since the indictment, has avoided being photographed at court proceedings until Monday. He sat in his vehicle with a small group of people until his legal team escorted him into the courthouse with several other people accompanying him.

Several legal steps in court have been canceled or rescheduled since the indictment occurred.

According to the indictments, Medeiros was accused of “negligently causing the death” of Sherrill by “driving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95."

“Despite passing at least two advanced warning signs and observing multiple warning/emergency lights, including a yellow direction arrow board, failed to move over to the next lane and/or reduce his speed until the tractor-trailer was within 11 feet of the parked cruiser … therefore slamming into the cruiser at a high rate of speed,” and causing Sherrill’s death.

The original indictment indicated there was "THC in his blood". According to Attorney Ronald Caron of Devine Millimet Law Firm who represents Medeiros, a request was made to remove that language and was granted.

The crash occurred on the northbound side of I-95 near mile Marker 14, just before Exit 3, at about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2021.

According to court documents, a “settlement conference” was scheduled for 9 a.m.

Before the settlement conference, jury selection had been scheduled for December 11th. According to court documents, jury selection is now scheduled for November 27th. Typically trial start shortly after jury selection, according to documents there is not a date for trial listed at this time.

On Saturday, during the 2nd anniversary of Sherrill’s death, his family and members of state police held a graveside memorial.

Medeiros was given personal recognizance bail after his indictment. Conditions included that he live at the Ashford, CT residence listed in the court records. He was prohibited from operating any type of vehicle in the State of New Hampshire and only operating passenger vehicles outside of the State of New Hampshire.

Patch will continue to follow this story and provide updated court information as it becomes available.

Also Read

• NHSP Staff Sgt. Jesse E. Sherrill Honored At Celebration Of Life
• New Hampshire State Trooper Honored With Retirement Of Plate
• Trucker Indicted On Negligent Homicide In Crash That Killed NH Trooper

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news