In the quiet town of Groveton, New Hampshire, a grim discovery brought a nearly year-long search to a somber end. On April 19, 2024, the remains of Alex Jackson, a 34-year-old White male from Windham, Maine, were found. Jackson had been reported missing by his family on May 14, 2023, after they had not heard from him for two days. His disappearance was considered unusual, sparking a lengthy investigation that crossed state lines.
The search for Jackson involved multiple law enforcement
agencies, including the Maine State Police, the Windham Police Department, the Maine Warden Service, the New Hampshire State Police, and the New Hampshire Fish and Wildlife Department. Their collaborative efforts led them to a remote sand pit in Stark, New Hampshire, a small town not far from Groveton. It was there that Jackson's body was discovered inside a barrel. An autopsy later confirmed he had died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Even before the discovery of Jackson's body, investigators had zeroed in on a suspect. Joseph Chute, a 30-year-old from Leeds, Maine, was arrested on March 29, 2024, and charged with Jackson's murder. Authorities have stated that Chute and Jackson were known to each other, and the last place Jackson was seen alive was at Chute's home. Witnesses reportedly told investigators that Chute had admitted to shooting Jackson at his farm and then attempting to hide the body.
The case against Chute is being prosecuted by the Maine Attorney General's Homicide Unit, as evidence suggests the murder occurred in Maine. Chute has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The discovery of Alex Jackson's remains provided his family with a tragic sense of closure, allowing them to bring him home for a proper burial, though the circumstances of his death continue to unfold within the legal system.
