Person of interest sketch released in Concord, N.H., double slaying probe

Sketch of person of interest in slayings of Stephen Reid, 67, and Djeswende Reid, 66, in Concord, N.H.New Hampshire AG

Authorities in New Hampshire on Tuesday released an artist’s sketch of a “person of interest” in last month’s killings of a married couple whose bodies were found in a wooded area of Concord, N.H.

The state attorney general’s office said the person, a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, was seen in the vicinity of the April 18 shootings carrying a black backpack and wearing a dark blue jacket and khaki-colored pants. He is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build and short brown hair, officials said.

“I will stress that he is a person of interest,” New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoffrey W.R. Ward said at a news conference. “That is, he is someone that investigators believe may have information about these crimes, as either a witness or a suspect.”

Ward declined to say what information the sketch was based on but noted the public has submitted more than 170 tips to investigators.

“Some of those tips have been helpful, have been useful to investigators as this investigation has progressed,” Ward said. “We still continue to have no specific information that any member of the public in general is in any danger.”

Ward also declined to discuss possible motives for the fatal shootings of Stephen Reid, 67, and Djeswende Reid, 66, telling reporters only that “investigators are pursuing all possible avenues.”

A reward of $33,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible. Most of the reward money — $20,000 — comes from an anonymous donor who has pledged to make the funds available to those who come forward with relevant information within the next 60 days.

Officials said the Reids left their residence in the Alton Woods apartment complex in Concord around 2:22 p.m. on April 18 and took a walk that brought them to the Broken Ground Trails off Portsmouth Street. Family and friends didn’t see or hear from them after they left for their walk, and their bodies were recovered on April 21 from a section of the trail network. Both had been shot multiple times.

On Tuesday’s briefing, Osgood said the investigation “remains the Concord Police Department’s highest priority, not only [for] our detectives and our investigators working directly on the case, but also our patrol division.”

“They’re spending a great deal of time in the community, trying to reassure the community,” he said. “It’s an exhausting investigation but we have a really good staff and I’m very proud of them.”

Relatives said last month that the couple had moved back to New England after Stephen Reid retired from a decadeslong career in international development. A Concord native, he joined the Peace Corps out of college, spending four years in West Africa teaching English to middle-schoolers. He met Djeswende in Washington, D.C., where she was attending college on an athletic scholarship.

“They bonded over their mutual love of adventure and fitness,’’ the family said in a statement.

Stephen’s career frequently sent him overseas, and Djeswende, who went by Wendy, was often by his side.

“Steve’s 30-plus year career as an international development specialist in service to the world’s most vulnerable through USAID humanitarian projects could not have been made possible without the love, care and support of Wendy who also helped recently resettled refugees acclimate and thrive in the United States,’’ the family said.

The Reids retired to Concord three years ago. They had previously lived in Vermont, according to public records, and in West Africa, according to Reid’s high school classmates and news reports. Djeswende was from Burkina Faso, according to their daughter’s corporate biography.

According to public records, Djeswende had worked for a nonprofit, the New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition, and had helped resettle refugees in the United States, according to the family.

Tipsters can call the Concord Police Department at 603-225-8600, or submit information anonymously by dialing the Concord Regional Crimeline at 603-226-3100.

“Tips can also be submitted online through the Crimeline website at www.concordregionalcrimeline.com, or text message TIP234 and your message to CRIMES (274637),” officials said. “Crimeline awards cash to anyone whose information directly leads to information concerning the Reids’ murders. All tips remain anonymous.”