In the quiet town of Derry, New Hampshire, the life of Ellen Munstis, a 74-year-old Caucasian woman, came to a tragic and unexpected end on August 10, 2019. Known to some as "Nell," she had emigrated from her native County Galway, Ireland, decades prior and had built a life in the United States, eventually retiring after a career with the Internal Revenue Service.
Her peaceful existence was shattered in the early morning hours when a 911 call was placed from her home.
Just after midnight, police were dispatched to the residence at 151 Bypass 28 after a call from a man who identified himself as Roderick Munstis, Ellen's 79-year-old husband. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a grim scene: Ellen Munstis was deceased, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The initial investigation pointed to a domestic tragedy, and authorities quickly took Roderick Munstis into custody. An autopsy later confirmed that Ellen's death was a homicide caused by the gunshot wounds.
Roderick Munstis was subsequently arrested and faced charges of second-degree murder in connection with his wife's death. He was arraigned on August 12, 2019, and pleaded not guilty. However, the legal proceedings took an unusual turn. After undergoing a competency evaluation, Roderick Munstis was found to be incompetent to stand trial. A forensic examiner concluded that his condition was not restorable, leading to a court order in August 2020 for the dismissal of the murder charges against him. Following her death, Ellen Munstis's body was returned to her native Ireland for her funeral and burial.
