A woman is stabbed over 20 times while photographing birds On a Tuesday afternoon in the autumn of 1978, Catherine Millican, a 27-year-old Caucasian female, told friends and family of her plans to go birdwatching. An avid and talented photographer, artist, ornithologist, and national sailing champion, it was not an unusual outing for her. She drove her brown Volkswagen Rabbit to a wooded area off Route 11 in New London, New Hampshire, a place then known as the Chandler Brook Wetlands.
Several witnesses later recalled seeing her car parked at the entrance to the wetlands on that day, October 24th. It was the last time anyone would report seeing her alive.
When Catherine didn't return, concern grew. The following day, her vehicle was still noted at the entrance to the woods. A search of the area was conducted, and on the night of Wednesday, October 25th, at around 11:30 p.m., her body was discovered several hundred yards into the woods. An autopsy would later reveal the grim details of her death; she had been the victim of a brutal attack and had died from multiple stab wounds. The peaceful wildlife area had become the scene of a violent homicide, leaving a community in shock and a family devastated by the loss of a vibrant young woman.
In the 47 years that have passed since the murder, the case has remained unsolved, and no arrests have ever been made. The investigation has been passed to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, which continues to actively seek answers. Over the decades, theories have emerged, with some speculating a possible connection to the series of murders attributed to the Connecticut River Valley Killer, who was active in the region between the late 1970s and late 1980s. However, law enforcement has never officially linked her death to this string of killings.
Despite the passage of time, hope for a resolution has not been abandoned. Investigators have renewed their efforts, conducting fresh searches for physical evidence in the area where Catherine's body was found, now known as the Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area. On the anniversary of her death, authorities released previously unseen photographs of Catherine to the public, hoping to jog someone's memory. The Cold Case Unit continues to ask for the public's help, urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Her family remains hopeful that one day her killer will be identified and that justice will finally be served, bringing closure to the painful loss of a woman so full of life and talent.
