In the quiet town of Salem, New Hampshire, the afternoon of April 3, 2017, was shattered by a violent explosion on Irving Street. The blast emanated from a home that had sat in a state of condemnation for two years, a property the town was reportedly in the process of seizing due to unpaid taxes. On that fateful day, police had been called to the residence following reports of a dispute between neighbors concerning a woodpile and unusual activity at the condemned house.
As officers approached, a foreboding hissing sound, accompanied by the smell of gas, prompted them to retreat just moments before the structure erupted.
Once the subsequent fire was under control, investigators made a grim discovery in the basement of the ravaged home. There, they found the body of a White male, 55-year-old Charles F. Hill. An investigation into his death determined that he had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The scene that greeted authorities was one of immense danger and preparation for a confrontation. Hill was found in possession of a rifle, two handguns, and two knives.
The basement was a veritable arsenal, with 136 rounds of ammunition for the firearms found on his person. A further search of the residence uncovered over 1,700 additional rounds of ammunition and four exploded magazines. The property itself was a testament to Hill's mindset, as investigators reported the grounds were littered with booby traps and obstacles, including logs and posts with protruding nails, seemingly placed to impede any entry by law enforcement or emergency responders. No suspects were sought in connection with the death of Charles Hill, as authorities concluded that he had taken his own life.
