A suspicious death investigation was underway Saturday in Easton, New Hampshire, where a woman was found dead inside a house there.
Attorney General John M. Formella initially released limited information Saturday, saying only that there was a suspicious death being investigated at a home in North Peak Drive, and there was no threat to the general public.
Formella provided more details later Saturday, identifying the victim as 76-year-old Cynthia Lanchester, and announcing that the victim's grandson had been arrested in the case.
Officials say 911 dispatchers received a call around 11:41 a.m. for a medical emergency at 44 North Peak Drive. State police responded and found Cynthia Lanchester laying on the ground, dead -- apparently having suffered a blunt force trauma wound. State police also encountered her grandson, 23-year-old Joshua Lanchester, who was arrested later Saturday evening.
According to the attorney general, Joshua Lanchester is facing one count of second degree murder for recklessly causing the death of his grandmother with a deadly weapon -- a hammer. He's currently being held without bail, and he's expected to be arraigned Monday in the 2nd Circuit Court - District Division in Littleton. It wasn't immediately clear if he had obtained an attorney.
An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Cynthia Lanchester Sunday.
Officials haven't provided a motive in the deadly hammer attack. An investigation is ongoing at this time.
