New Hampshire Seeks Public Help in 2001 Murder of Louise Chaput

The unsolved murder of Canadian mother Louise Chaput continues to haunt her family as New Hampshire authorities seek public assistance in solving the case. Chaput, who was 52 years old at the time of her death, was visiting from Sherbrooke, Quebec, in November 2001, intending to hike and enjoy the scenic landscape.

According to New Hampshire State Police and Attorney General John M. Formella, Chaput arrived in the area on November 15, 2001. She parked her silver Ford Focus at the Direttis Sima Trailhead and embarked on a two-hour hike. Despite the unseasonably mild weather that autumn, she never returned to her room at the Joe Dodge Lodge, where she was staying.

Thanksgiving Day that year brought tragic news as Chaput’s frozen body was discovered near the start of the Glen Boulder Trail in Jackson, NH. It had been four days since anyone had seen her. The autopsy revealed that she died from multiple stab wounds, and some of her personal items, including a dark blue Kanuk sleeping bag and a blue backpack with a Canadian insignia, were located nearby. Notably, her car keys were never recovered.

In an emotional statement, her daughter Constance Chaput expressed the family’s ongoing struggle, saying, “We still don’t know who committed this irreparable act. She was a devoted mother, a psychologist who cared for vulnerable people, and someone whose love of life was contagious.” Constance urged anyone with information, no matter how minor, to come forward, emphasizing that it could lead to the truth regarding her mother’s death.

The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is actively soliciting information from anyone who hiked in the Pinkham Notch region during the time of Chaput’s disappearance. They are particularly interested in hearing from those who were part of hiking groups or informal meetups in the area. The unit also encourages participants in early online hiking forums discussing conditions in the White Mountains in late 2001 to reach out.

Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, chief of the Cold Case Unit, stated, “The passage of time has not diminished our resolve to find out what happened to Louise Chaput. We know someone out there saw something, heard something, or encountered something that can help us understand her final hours.”

Interest in the investigation received a boost in 2019 when the Quebec-based crime podcast Syntheses aired a series focusing on Chaput’s case. The show’s producer connected with Marie Pinault and Denis Masson, friends of Chaput, who expressed concerns that her killer remains a threat to the public. Masson voiced the desire for justice, stating, “It’s important to us to stop this person, and that person is put away so this doesn’t happen again. It would be great to have closure for us, but it wouldn’t bring back Louise.”

As investigators continue to seek leads, the unresolved nature of Louise Chaput’s murder serves as a painful reminder of the potential dangers that can lurk in even the most serene environments. The New Hampshire authorities remain committed to uncovering the truth and bringing closure to Chaput’s grieving family.