A man is found shot and strangled on the side of Hampstead Road On March 30, 1995, the body of 26-year-old Hai Bo Lei, a male resident of Boston, Massachusetts, was discovered on the side of Hampstead Road in Salem, New Hampshire. Also known as Paul Lei, he was the victim of a brutal, execution-style slaying. An investigation revealed that he had been shot multiple times, bound, strangled, and his throat had been cut.
The manner of his death and evidence found at the scene, including ligatures and shell casings from a single firearm, suggested to investigators that the killing was not a random act of violence.
Despite a thorough investigation at the time of the discovery, the murder of Hai Bo Lei remains unsolved, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the case. For three decades, those responsible for his death have evaded justice. The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, in collaboration with the Salem Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police, continues to actively investigate the homicide. Authorities have employed modern forensic techniques and are working with law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts to hopefully bring new life to the investigation.
Investigators believe there were individuals at the time who may have possessed information about the killing but were afraid to come forward. It is thought that fear of retaliation, association with illegal gambling or gang activity, or fear of prosecution may have kept potential witnesses from speaking to the police. Law enforcement officials have publicly appealed to anyone who knew Hai Bo Lei, or who may have heard something in the aftermath of his death, to come forward, believing that even the smallest detail could be the key to finally solving this long-standing cold case and bringing closure to his family.
