A woman's body is found near railroad tracks in Dover, NH On the morning of April 13, 1990, the body of 31-year-old Caucasian female Sheila Holmes of Barrington, New Hampshire, was discovered near the railroad tracks by Forest Street in Dover. An autopsy later revealed the cause of death to be strangulation, accompanied by blunt force trauma to the head. She had also sustained multiple rib fractures and a lacerated renal artery. Her body was found on the ground in front of a blue Toyota pickup truck.
The scene, as described by investigators, was clearly one of violence and showed signs of a rage-filled attack.
Sheila was last seen leaving her job at the St. Jean's Club in Dover a little after 11:00 p.m. the previous night. She was reportedly on her way to pick up her boyfriend from his job in Somersworth, a trip she tragically never completed. The initial investigation explored various theories, including the possibility of her boyfriend's involvement after she failed to arrive, but the focus soon shifted.
The investigation into Sheila Holmes's murder has spanned decades and remains an unsolved homicide, a cold case that continues to haunt her family and the Dover community. Over the years, a person of interest emerged who reportedly made multiple admissions to killing Sheila, providing a glimmer of hope for a resolution. However, this individual later recanted their confession. Despite the belief by some investigators that they had identified the person responsible, the attorney general's office determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
The case has been linked to other unsolved homicides in the area, raising the specter of a possible serial killer. For Sheila's family, the years have been marked by profound loss and a continuing fight for justice. They remember her as a caring and empathetic person who would do anything for anybody and had a penchant for standing up for the underdog. The New Hampshire Department of Justice continues to list Sheila Holmes's case as an unsolved homicide, and authorities encourage anyone with information to come forward. Her family remains hopeful that one day, they will have the answers and closure they have sought for so long.
