A woman dies as a result of arson In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 11, 1986, a devastating fire engulfed a residence at 314 Islington Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The blaze, which was reported at approximately 3:25 a.m., claimed the life of 24-year-old Terry Giles, a Caucasian female. Another resident, 29-year-old Joseph Poulin, also perished in the fire that day.
First responders arrived to a scene of chaos and destruction as flames tore through the home.
A third individual, 39-year-old Linda Plummer, was pulled from the inferno with severe burns. She was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment but tragically succumbed to her injuries on March 30, 1987. Investigators quickly determined that the fire was not accidental and officially ruled the case an arson.
The deaths of Terry Giles, Joseph Poulin, and Linda Plummer were classified as homicides, launching a lengthy and complex investigation by the Portsmouth Police Department. Authorities have continued to seek information from the public over the years, hoping for a breakthrough that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the fatal fire. The case remains an unsolved homicide, a painful open wound for the families of the victims and the Portsmouth community. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the crime.
