In the quiet town of Canterbury, New Hampshire, a Sunday afternoon in late February of 2014 was shattered by a tragic incident that would leave a family grieving and a community in shock. Mark Lewis Kelso, a 53-year-old White/Caucasian male, lost his life on February 23, 2014, in what was initially reported as a workplace accident but was later revealed to be a fatal gunshot wound.
A self-employed logger with a deep love for the outdoors, he was known for his strong work ethic and his devotion to his family.
On that day, emergency services received a 911 call from a residence on Borough Road. The caller, Peter Fife, reported that Kelso had fallen and struck his head on a piece of logging equipment, a skidder, in the driveway. When first responders arrived, they found Kelso unresponsive. He was rushed to Concord Hospital, where the true nature of his injury was discovered. An X-ray revealed metal fragments, believed to be from a bullet, lodged in his head. Sadly, Mark Kelso succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
The discovery of the bullet fragments immediately shifted the focus of the investigation from a simple accident to a potential homicide, prompting the involvement of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit. A thorough investigation was launched, which included numerous interviews, an autopsy, and a detailed examination of the scene and physical evidence. The investigation revealed that the bullet fragments recovered from Kelso were consistent with the ammunition from his own. 357 revolver.
After a lengthy and detailed investigation, the New Hampshire Attorney General's office released a report concluding that the most likely cause of Mark Kelso's death was an accidental discharge of the firearm he was known to carry with him. The report noted that while homicide or suicide could not be entirely ruled out, the evidence strongly pointed towards a tragic accident. Witnesses reported that Kelso was sometimes careless with his firearm. Ultimately, the investigation into the death of Mark Lewis Kelso was closed, and no arrests were made as there was no suspect or evidence of foul play. His death was a devastating loss to his wife of 29 years, his two children, and his extended family and friends.
