Linda Tufts’ cause of death was multiple stab and incised wounds, and the manner of her death was homicide, officials announced Wednesday.
A day after announcing a woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a home in Goffstown, New Hampshire, police confirmed the woman was killed and her death is considered a homicide.
The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday that the case is now an active homicide investigation, and identified the woman who died as 70-year-old Linda Tufts.
The state police major crime unit was seen at Tufts' Joffre Street home on Wednesday.
Goffstown police were initially called to the single-family residence around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday and found Tufts dead, as well as an active fire.
Officers extinguished the fire and conducted a safety check of the home, at which point they found Tufts' adult son, Thomas Humphrey, also inside. The 47-year-old was alive but injured, according to officials, and he was hospitalized for treatment for apparent self-inflicted knife wounds.
An autopsy performed Wednesday determined Tufts died from multiple stab and incised wounds, and her manner of death was homicide, officials said.
Both Tufts and Humphrey lived in the Joffre Street home where they were found.
No arrests were announced Wednesday, however investigators said they believe all relevant parties have been identified and that there is no threat to the public.
The investigation into the circumstances of Tufts’ death remains active and ongoing.
Neighbors previously told NBC10 Boston that an older husband and wife live at the home, as well as their adult son. One neighbor said the woman was a friend.
"She was 71 years old. She was a sweet lady if you got to know her, talk to her," Chia Guy told NBC10 Boston.
He added that her husband, who was at work at the time of the killing, is heartbroken.
"He's hanging in there as best as he can I just got off the phone with him," Guy said.
Michelle Toto, who lives across the street, said the scene was chaotic.
"All of a sudden, we saw some police cars come up. Cops running," Toto said. "We could hear them saying, you know, they're trying to get in. They had guns drawn."
She said her husband told her someone else at the home had stab wounds.
Another neighbor, who didn’t want to be identified, said, "My phone has been blowing up from friends and other neighbors just saying, 'My gosh, are you OK? Is everything OK?' It's nerve wracking. Of course, you don't usually see stuff like this happen on your home street."
Toto said she hasn't had any issues with the family that lives at the home that had become the center of a police investigation: "Very nice people. I can't imagine, it's heart-wrenching."
