On June 3, 2023, in Franklin, New Hampshire, 18-month-old Ariella Bell and her mother, 35-year-old Nicole Hughes, were found deceased in their residence on Elkins Street. Both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and their deaths were ruled homicides. Authorities identified Jamie Bell, 42, as the suspect. He was Hughes' intimate partner and Ariella's father.
Following the incident, Bell fled the scene, prompting an extensive manhunt.
He was later found dead on the bank of the Merrimack River near River Street in Franklin. An autopsy revealed that he died from a self-inflicted incised wound to the neck, and his death was ruled a suicide.
During the attack, Hughes' 5-year-old daughter from a previous relationship sustained a gunshot wound to her arm and a laceration on her back. She was treated at a Massachusetts hospital and is expected to recover. The community of Franklin was deeply affected by the tragedy, with neighbors expressing shock and sorrow over the events.
In response to the incident, a candlelight vigil was organized to honor the lives of Nicole Hughes and her daughter Ariella. Family members have taken in the surviving child and requested privacy during their time of grief. The investigation into the homicides continues, as authorities work to understand the circumstances leading up to the tragic events.
