A Seabrook woman has been charged with the second-degree murder of her mother, officials from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office have announced. Brynn Comtois, 24, was arrested this past Monday following an incident in which her mother, Cheryl Stoddard, 45, was found dead with a stab wound at the Rockingham Village Apartments.
The grim discovery was made after Seabrook police responded to a 911 call at precisely 11:18 p.m. on Sunday, according to a report by WCVB. The Assistant Attorney General, Bethany Durand, was quoted stating, "At the time that officers responded, they located our victim. She was inside of her own apartment, and she was deceased, suffering from an apparent stab wound." An autopsy later confirmed Stoddard's death to have been caused by a single stab wound to the neck.
In the wake of this family tragedy, a resident recalled the significant police activity that unfolded in the otherwise quiet neighborhood. "There was about 12 to 14 different cop cars, a couple undercovers, a couple states, Seabrook. That's when I knew something serious was happening," Zachary Fowler told WCVB. The local community was assured, however, that there was no ongoing danger with the suspect now in custody.
While Comtois faces serious allegations, it is important to remember that, as the New Hampshire Attorney General's office emphasized in a statement obtained by Boston.com, "The charges against Brynn Comtois are only allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty." The investigation into Stoddard's death continues, and the AG's office stated that an autopsy was scheduled for Monday following her death.
Details about Comtois's arraignment have yet to be released at the time of writing. The event has undoubtedly shaken the local community of Seabrook, and as the legal process unfolds, further details surrounding the circumstances of this tragic incident are expected to emerge.
