Arson results in the deaths of 2 people In the autumn of 1978, a quiet street in Manchester, New Hampshire, became the scene of a tragedy that would remain a mystery for decades to come. On October 24, fire trucks rushed to an apartment building at 541-547 Chestnut Street, battling a blaze that would ultimately claim the lives of two residents. One of the victims was Pauline Miller, a 53-year-old woman.
As investigators sifted through the charred remains of the building, a grim determination was made: the fire was no accident.
The State Fire Marshal's investigation concluded that the fire had been deliberately set, turning a tragic event into a double homicide case. Pauline Miller, along with 51-year-old Ray Blanchette, had died from smoke inhalation, their lives cut short by an act of arson.
In the years that followed, the deaths of Pauline Miller and Ray Blanchette became a cold case. Despite investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fire, no arrests were ever made, and no suspects were publicly identified. The case remains an open and unsolved homicide, a painful chapter in the city's history. The New Hampshire Department of Justice continues to list the case as unsolved, holding out hope that one day, new information will emerge to bring justice for Pauline Miller and Ray Blanchette.
