CELINA CASS - Aged 11 years - West Stewartstown, New Hampshire (USA)

ABC News

1 August 2011

Celina Cass' Body Found In River, Dashing Town's Hope for Her Safe Return

A heartbreaking search for Celina Cass ended today when her body was pulled out of the Connecticut River, not far from her New Hampshire home.

The body was discovered about 10:30 a.m., but wasn't pulled from the water until about 5: 30 p.m. Officials did not explain why it took so long to recover her remains.

"We have brought Celina home, but not the way we wanted to bring her home," New Hampshire senior assistant Attorney General Jane Young said with a slight quaver in her voice.

The body was pulled from the river about a quarter mile from the 11-year-old girl's home in West Stewartstown, a hamlet of only 800 people.

Young said the girl's disappearance has been reclassified as a homicide.

"We continue to investigate this case," she said, talking to witnesses and checking vehicles that were seen in the area.

"We are looking at all facets of the investigation and that includes where she was last seen," Young said.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/celina-cass-body-found-river-case-now-homicide/story?id=14205754

Celina's details have now been removed from Missing Kids Website!!

Business and Law

August 17, 2011 12:58 AM EDT

Celina Cass Murder Mystery: Investigators Losing Hope

The suspicious death of the 12-year-old New Hampshire girl Celina Cass remains a mystery to the investigators as they haven't been able to follow a potential lead in finding out what exactly happened to her on the night she went missing. Jane Young, lead prosecutor, appeared to have lost hopes. She had said on Thursday that she did not expect any new developments in the Celina Cass case in the immediate future.

The investigators are waiting for the routine toxicology report, which is due in the next couple of weeks.

Celina's body was recovered from the Connecticut River on Aug.1, a week after she was reported missing. As the divers recovered the body, reporters and photographers were asked to leave the scene, but there have been reports which said that the dead body was found wrapped in a blanket.

What Exactly Happened that Night?

Celina was reportedly watching "The Secret Life of An American Teenager" on ABC Family Channel with her mother Louisa Noyes in the living room till 9 p.m. on July 25. After the show, Louisa Noyes retired, but Celina kept herself engaged on her computer.

According to a Colebrook Chronicle report, Celina shared a bedroom in the basement of the apartment house with her sister Kayla. Celina's mother Louisa Noyes, step-father Wendell Noyes, family friend Kevin Mullaney and Louisa's mother-in-law Tommie Richards were staying with the family on the night on July 25.

Mullaney came home around midnight, who didn't find Celina in the living room. The next morning Richards left to go to her home by 8:15 a.m. and Louisa left the house to go to work in Colebrook. It was Wendell Noyes who went to wake up Celina for her 9 a.m. appointment at a local hairdresser shop, but couldn't find her in her bed. Fifteen minutes later he rang Louisa to tell her that Celina was not found in the house.

Extensive search for Celina began almost immediately, only to discover her dead body near a PSNH dam on the Connecticut River. Celina's stepfather Wendell Noyes was admitted to a mental health facility in Concord a day after Celina's body was found. Noyes is paranoid schizophrenic and has criminal record of attempted assault on his ex-girlfriend.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/199005/20110817/celina-cass-murder-mystery-new-hampshire-investigators-toxicology-report-evidence-jane-young-wendell.htm

Boston Globe

Associated Press / August 17, 2011

By Lynne Tuohy and John Curran

NH town endures 'creepy' wait after girl's death

CONCORD, N.H.—Two weeks after searchers pulled the body of 11-year-old Celina Cass from the Connecticut River near her house, the lack of an arrest or answers to questions about how she died has cast a pall over her New Hampshire hometown.

People in Stewartstown are waiting -- for answers about the girl, justice for her family, peace of mind for themselves.

The police's inability to identify or charge a suspect, an autopsy that couldn't pinpoint the cause of death and lingering fears that a killer is at large are hanging over folks.

Police say the investigation is active, with the results of toxicology tests on the girl's body pending. Experts say that may go a long way toward helping identify or charge a suspect.

Cass vanished July 25 or July 26 from her home after being last seen on her computer in her bedroom. Her body was found Aug. 1.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/08/17/nh_town_endures_creepy_wait_after_girls_death/

Boston.com

August 18, 2011

Reward planned in 11-year-old NH girl’s death

New Hampshire prosecutors are announcing a reward for information in the suspicious death of an 11-year-old girl.

The Attorney General’s Office has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Thursday to issue a plea for information on the death of Celina Cass of Stewartstown.

She was last seen alive at her house July 25. Her body was recovered from the Connecticut River about a quarter-mile from her home a week later.

http://articles.boston.com/2011-08-18/news/29901241_1_suspicious-death-results-of-toxicology-tests-press-conference

San Francisco Times

19th August 2011

Celina Cass Mysterious Death: $30,000 Reward Announced as Police Hunt For Clues

Thirty thousand dollars will be offered as rewards for any information that leads the authorities in solving the mysterious death of Celina Cass, a state prosecutor has announced.

Celina Cass, a 11-year-old New Hampshire girl, was found dead in the river near her home on August 1, after nearly a week of going missing.

Cass' body was found in the Connecticut River near a hydropower station in West Stewartstown, a New Hampshire by a dive team from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department - a week after the authorities began their search.

"Based on what we have seen visually we are treating it as suspicious," said Jane Young, a senior assistant attorney general from New Hampshire.

Cass was last seen at home before her computer at about 9 p.m. local time on July 25. But when her parents woke her up, she had disappeared, authorities said.

The autopsy result is inconclusive and it couldn't discover the cause of Cass' death.

However, the investigators believe there must be some people, who witnessed something or have some information helpful for the case.

“Even the smallest observation could provide a piece of the puzzle necessary in solving this tragedy,” Young said.

The FBI has offered $25,000 and $5,000 donation from an anonymous source as reward for information that leads to solving Cass' death.

According to Young, the anonymous donor is a “concerned citizen”, who lives in the North Country, and has donated the $5,000 for the case “because of how devastating it's been to that community.”

“I've had people call as far away as New Mexico saying they want to donate to this,” Young continued.

Currently many witnessed are being interviewed and the authorities are still investigating Cass' death.

Anyone with related information should contact New Hampshire State Police at 603-846-3333. Anyone, who wants to make donation for the case as the public reward should contact Susan Small at Northway Bank in Gorham at 603-466-5467.

http://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/articles/200676/20110819/celina-cass-mysterious-death-30-000-reward-announced-as-police-hunt-for-clues.htm

Chron.com

Published 01:05 p.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tips, money continue to flow in girl's death

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tips to investigators and donations to a reward fund continue to flow as New Hampshire officials try to unravel how an 11-year-old Stewartstown girl died.

Lead prosecutor Jane Young says investigators in recent days received a dozen new tips and an additional $2,300 in reward money in the case of Celina Cass of Stewartstown.

Celina was last seen alive at her home July 25. Her body was recovered from the Connecticut River about a quarter-mile from her home near the Canadian border a week later. An autopsy failed to pinpoint the cause and manner of her death and investigators hope to have the results of toxicology tests sometime this week.

The reward fund has topped $32,000 and Gorham's Northway Bank has been flooded with calls from across the country.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Tips-money-continue-to-flow-in-girl-s-death-2139253.php

WCAX News

August 26, 2011

New memorial held for Celina Cass

Thursday marked one month since Celina Cass disappeared, and friends turned out to remember her.

The 11-year-old girl's body was pulled from the Connecticut River a quarter of a mile from her home on Aug. 1.

A group of friends, teachers, neighbors, and classmates gathered at the river dam where her body was found to remember Celina with a balloon launch and candle-lighting.

"Tonight it's a month since we've last seen Celina, and we just want to let Celina know that we will never forget her, we remember her, and we're giving her a voice that we also want some answers, even for her," said Stewartstown resident Deb Whelan, who organized the event.

Parents hope the ceremony will offer Cass' friends some closure before the school year starts.

Authorities have called her death suspicious and are offering a reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

http://www.wcax.com/story/15337490/new-memorial-held-for-celina-cass

My Fox Boston

Tuesday, 30 Aug 2011, 3:27 PM EDT

Still no arrests in death of 11-year-old NH girl

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Teachers at a tiny New Hampshire elementary school are prepared for questions on the first day of school about the suspicious death of girl who would have entered the 5th grade.

School superintendent Robert Mills says teachers at Stewartstown Elementary School were briefed last week by a pediatric trauma specialist to prepare for questions about 11-year-old Celina Cass, whose body was pulled from the Connecticut River one month ago.

An autopsy failed to pinpoint the cause and manner of her death. Investigators continue to await tips and toxicology results.

Mills said the goal is to get students into a normal routine as soon as possible.

He said he was buoyed by the children's excitement on the first day of school.

Mills said adults sometimes underestimate how resilient children are.

Read more: http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/still-no-arrests-in-death-of-11-year-old-nh-girl-Celina-Cass-25-apx-20110830#ixzz1XiJdKFZz

WCAX News

August 31, 2011

No toxicology results yet in Cass death

There are still no answers as to how an 11-year-old girl in New Hampshire's north country died.

Celina Cass' body was pulled from the Connecticut River about a month ago.

Officials had hoped to have the toxicology results back last week to determine the cause of death, but that didn't happen.

They say it is not unusual for toxicology results to take up to eight weeks.

http://www.wcax.com/story/15364804/no-toxicology-results-yet-in-cass-death

Gather.com

September 06, 2011 11:50 PM EDT

Celina Cass Case Reward Grows in New Hampshire

The reward that has been posted for information on the whereabouts of Celina Cass, a missing 11-year-old girl in New Hampshire, has increased considerably. The reward fund was made open to the public and advertised on local television, and the locals have clearly responded.

Cass was last seen in her home in West Stewartstown on July 25th and had disappeared the following morning, with no sign of breaking and entering. She was found dead in the Connecticut River on August 1st, and the FBI posted a $25,000 reward that soon rose to $30,000 due to an anonymous donor. The reward fund remained open for public donations, and local news affiliate WMUR-TV learned from authorities Tuesday that the fund has now reached $30,665 in the desperate search for answers.

Her death has been called "suspicious," but authorities have been unable to deem it a homicide, nor pinpoint a suspect. The family of Celina Cass and the residents of West Stewartstown remain despondent due to worries that the Cass case will run cold, because of the fact that her autopsy failed to reveal a cause of death and there have been no further developments in the case, at least none that have been made public. However, the investigation continues, and the donations to the reward fund prove that the residents of West Stewartstown are emotionally invested in learning what happened to little Celina Cass.

http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980187106

WMUR Manchester

20 September 2011

Mother Of Celina Cass Desperate For Answers
‎Little Information Released As Investigation Continues

The mother of an 11-year-old girl whose body was found a week after she disappeared from her West Stewartstown home said Tuesday that she's desperate for answers.
Celina Cass was reported missing in July, and her body was pulled out of the Connecticut River on Aug. 1. The girl's mother and stepfather said they put her to bed one night, and the next morning, she was gone.
Since then, an autopsy has come back inconclusive, and no arrests have been made. Investigators said they are still waiting for toxicology reports to come back.

In an exclusive interview with News 9's Amy Coveno, her mother, Louisa Cass, said she wants to know what happened.
"Answers," she said. "Why would someone do what they did? She didn't deserve it. She didn't do anything to anyone."
Those who knew Celina said she was "Mommy's girl."
"I remember sitting in the chair with her and rocking her," her mother said. "And then the next morning after I came to work, I get a phone call, and she was gone."
She never saw her daughter again. After Celina's body was found in the river, Louisa Cass was advised that it would be best if she didn't see her daughter's body.
"I go to the cemetery every week," she said. "I talk to her. I want her to come and tell me what happened so we know."

http://www.wmur.com/newsarchive/29246924/detail.htmlixzz1aIWA5d7W

Fox News

21 September 2011

Mom of New Hampshire Girl Found Dead Separated From Husband‎

The mother of an 11-year-old New Hampshire girl whose body was found a week after she disappeared from her home says she has separated from her husband, her daughter's stepfather, and is selling her house.

Celina Cass was last seen alive at her West Stewartstown home July 25. Her body was recovered from the Connecticut River close to home near the borders of Canada and Vermont. An autopsy failed to pinpoint the cause and manner of death. Toxicology tests are pending.

No arrests have been made.

A tearful Luisia Cass tells WMUR-TV she didn't hear anything the night her daughter disappeared.

Luisia Cass says she's separated from Celina's stepfather, Wendell Noyes. He has a history of psychiatric issues and has been in and out of hospitals since Celina disappeared.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/21/mom-new-hampshire-girl-found-dead-separated-from-husband/

WPTZ The Champlain Valley

22 September 2011

NH Family Meets With Investigators On Cass Case
Family Mum After Meeting‎

The mother and sister of an 11-year-old girl whose body was recovered from a river in northern New Hampshire have met with investigators for two hours, but have declined to say anything publicly.
Luisia Cass told The Associated Press she had no comment after leaving the Coos County attorney's office in Lancaster on Thursday afternoon.

http://www.wptz.com/news/29268949/detail.html

Boston Globe

22 september 2011

Cass case declared a homicide

New Hampshire authorities say they have determined a cause death for an 11-year-old West Stewartstown girl whose body was found in a river last month, but they aren't making it public while the investigation continues.

The attorney general's office said Thursday that Celina Cass's death has been ruled a homicide, and that based on further investigation and toxicology tests, a cause of death also has been determined. But authorities aren't releasing the information, saying it could harm the integrity of the investigation.‎

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2011/09/22/nh_family_meets_with_investigators_on_cass_case/

NECN

22 September 2011

Manner of death known, search for suspect still on‎

In New Hampshire, authorities confirm a family’s worst fears, their daughter was murdered.

“The deputy chief medical examiner…has ruled Celina's death to be a homicide,” said Senior Assistant NH Attorney General Jane Young.

But, Celina Cass’s paternal grandmother, Marcia Laro told NECN in a phone interview, this was something they knew all along.

“They don't find a little girl wrapped in a blanket and call it suspicious-- we knew right away it was a homicide,” said Laro. “Everybody in town knew it,” she added. “We may be a small town but we're not stupid."

The 11-year-old girl went missing from her West Stewartstown, New Hampshire, home on July 25th. Her body was found a week later in the Connecticut River, wrapped in a blanket. The medical examiner conducted an autopsy, but was waiting for toxicology results before ruling on a cause and manner of death. Investigators met with Celina’s mother and sister on Thursday to tell them Celina indeed had been murdered, but investigators are intentionally not releasing the cause of death yet.

“The investigation remains on going,” said Young. “We are trying to protect the investigation. Our ultimate goal in this investigation is to bring the person or persons responsible for Celina's murder to justice and by holding some of those facts we hope to accomplish our goal."

Young said police are also working on forensic evidence in the case.

Since Celina’s funeral, her mother and sister have moved out of the home they shared with Celina’s stepfather, Wendell Noyes. Noyes has a history of mental illness and is now living in a group home in Berlin, NH.

Celina’s grandmother said they are frustrated at the lack of information, but understand they have to wait while the investigation runs its course.

“That's all we can do, that's all we can do,” said Laro. “We’re not happy, but that's all we can do."

http://www.necn.com/09/22/11/Manner-of-death-known-search-for-suspect/landing_newengland.html?blockID=566060&feedID=4206

Boston Herald

25 September 2011

NH town's skepticism grows in Celina Cass case
‎
In the small New Hampshire town where a missing 11-year-old girl’s body was found two months ago, time has stoked more than intrigue and uneasiness. Cynicism and suspicion are setting in.

The state attorney general’s office this week declared Celina Cass’ death a homicide but did not reveal how she was killed. The declaration of homicide came as no surprise to residents.

"I think everybody knew that for weeks," schools Superintendent Robert Mills said Friday. The mood in town is one of "eager anticipation" that someone will be brought to justice so the healing can begin.

But even that hope is fading.

"Either they’ve got enough evidence or they don’t," said Shannon Towle, owner of the convenience store and gas station that are the hub of Stewartstown. "And I don’t think they do."

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/20110925nh_towns_skepticism_grows_in_celina_cass_case/srvc=home&position=recent

WGME

26 September 2011

Some wonder if Celina Cass case will be solved‎

Some people in the town of Stewartstown, NH wonder if police have enough evidence to make an arrest in the death of 11-year-old Celina Cass. Celina disappeared from her home in late July. Her body was found about a week later about a mile from her home. Last week the NH Attorney General's Office ruled Celina's death to be a homicide, but there's still no official word on how she died. Authorities are still waiting for toxicology reports to come in.

http://www.wgme.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wgme_vid_9399.shtml

United Press International

12 October 2011

Stepfather denies role in Celina's death‎

Wendell Noyes, the stepfather of 11-year-old Celina Cass, says he had nothing to do with the death of the New Hampshire girl, whose body was found in August.

Celina was on the computer when he went to bed at 9 p.m. with his wife, Luisia, the night of July 25, Noyes, 48, told WMUR-TV, Manchester, N.H. When he awoke in the morning, Celina was gone, he said. Her body was pulled from the Connecticut River a week later.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Investigators have seized Noyes' truck, cellphone and computer in their investigation. Noyes told WMUR his wife, whom he married in October 2010, has told him to stay away.

"I had nothing to do with it. We left the door unlocked, and somebody else was in the apartment after we went upstairs," Noyes said on Monday.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/12/Stepfather-denies-role-in-Celinas-death/UPI-40781318439433/

Daily Mail

23 January 2012

Lodger, 23, who shared apartment with murdered school girl Celina Cass, arrested over gun charges

A man who lived in the same apartment as an 11-year-old girl who was murdered has been jailed.

The body of Celina Cass was discovered on August 1 last year in the Connecticut River, a week after she was reported missing from her home in Stewartstown, New Hampshire.

Kevin Mullaney, 23, has been held at the Coos County jail since January 10 on charges unrelated to her killing.

He was charged with receiving stolen property, breach of bail, possession of a firearm by a felon and forgery. He also has drug possession charges pending in Grafton County.

Mullaney was sharing an apartment with Miss Cass and her family when Celina disappeared July 25.

Her body was found a week later near a hydroelectric dam that spans the Connecticut River.

The discovery ended an intense search that at its peak involved more than 100 federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

Miss Cass's death has been declared a homicide, but no arrests have been made.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young said last week that the investigation into Celina's death 'is as active today as when we found her'.

Young wouldn't comment on Mullaney's recent arrests or any connection to the investigation into Celina's death.

In the past, Mullaney has said Celina's mother, Louisa Cass, was like a mother to him, and Celina was like a sister.

Coos County House of Correction Superintendent Craig Hamelin said Mullaney was being held in lieu of a $31,000 cash bond. Mullaney has no court appearances currently scheduled.

Mullaney is the son of a former boyfriend of Celina's mother. He was living with Celina, Louisa Cass, Louisa Cass's husband, Wendell Noyes, and Celina's 13-year-old sister, Kayla.

Celina Cass was last seen in her apartment using a computer. Her body was found in the Connecticut River, a quarter-mile from her home near the Canadian border a week later.

Since the discovery of Celina's body, Louisa Cass has separated from her husband of a year, Wendell Noyes, who has a history of psychological problems.

Noyes, 48, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was committed to a state psychiatric hospital in 2003 after breaking into the home of an ex-girlfriend and threatening to harm her.

He has been in and out of hospitals since Celina disappeared.

Friends say Louisa Cass and her daughter were now living with Kevin Mullaney's father, Mark Mullaney.

Kevin Mullaney had been living with them until recently.

Mullaney was charged with forging Louisia Cass's signature on a $250 check he cashed on October 4 at Towle's Mini Mart in Stewartstown.

Store owner Shannon Towle said last week that one of her clerks cashed the check.

She said she was not aware of Mullaney's arrest until several of the investigators in Celina Cass's case came in and had the check with them.

Ms Towie said: 'There's a presence of them up here all the time. They're questioning people a lot.'

A neighbour of the family said last year that Celina's home was more like a 'party stable' with people coming in and out all the time.

Robbie Kimball, the owner of nearby Wayne’s Lanes and Jo’s Grill, said: 'They had people that were in and out of there all the time. It was the get-together hangout.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2090466/Lodger-23-shared-apartment-murdered-school-girl-Celina-Cass-arrested-gun-charges.html

CBS News

23 July 2012

Celina Cass anniversary: 1 year later, no arrest in NH girl's murder

It has been nearly one year since 11-year-old Celina Cass vanished from her northern New Hampshire home and was found dead a week later, yet no arrests have been made, and investigators still aren't revealing any details about her death.

Senior Assistant State's Attorney Jame Young says the investigation remains open and active, with three state troopers from the nearby Twin Mountain barracks assigned nearly full-time.

"Sometimes these cases are marathons, not sprints," Young said. "It's clearly not a cold case."

Celina's body was retrieved from the Connecticut River on Aug. 1, near the New Hampshire border with Canada and Vermont, and less than a quarter-mile from her home. Prosecutors have labeled her death a homicide but have not revealed how she died.

Young acknowledged the community's frustration with scant information from authorities, but stressed her goal is to bring Celina's killer or killers to justice. That way, she said, authorities can ensure that they obtain first-hand information from any suspects, rather than details suspects might have learned from news reports on the case.

Celina was last seen using the family's computer at about 9 p.m. on July 25, after watching the television show, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," with her mother.

Her body was located a week later in the water near a dam and railroad trestle that is a popular fishing spot for locals, easily accessible by a wide dirt path and visible from the road.

At the time of her disappearance, Celina lived with her mother, Luisia, her sister, her stepfather, Wendell Noyes, and 22-year-old Kevin Mullaney - the son of one of Luisia's former boyfriends.

Mullaney and Wendell Noyes have been subpoenaed to testify at grand jury proceedings in Celina's case.

Mullaney has been imprisoned since June 12 on convictions unrelated to the Celina Cass investigation. Those charges include reckless conduct, receiving stolen property, possession of a weapon by a felon and criminal mischief. He will not be eligible for parole until at least January 2014.

Noyes, 47, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was committed to a state psychiatric hospital in 2003 after breaking into the home of an ex-girlfriend and threatening to harm her. He has been in and out of hospitals since Celina disappeared.

"I'd just as soon not talk," Wendell Noyes said last week. Asked if he had been warned not to talk about the case, he replied, "Yeah, more or less," but declined to say by whom.

Noyes' mother, Eunice Richards, who was also subpoenaed to testify before the grand jruy, said the past year "has been a living hell for the whole family."

"It's so sad, so sad," Richards said. "They've got to have something to nail it to somebody."

Celina's mother separated from Wendell Noyes within months of her disappearance, after a year of marriage.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57478082-504083/celina-cass-anniversary-1-year-later-no-arrest-in-nh-girls-murder/