Authorities say the woman who was found dead in a northern New Hampshire restaurant on Sunday was the victim of a murder-suicide.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said police responded to La Casita at 4 Hillside Ave. in Berlin at about 9:45 a.m. after receiving a 911 call for reported gunshots.
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Sandra Marisol Fuentes Huaracha, 25, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds behind the bar by officers.
Michael Gleason Jr., 50, was later found dead in one of the bathrooms with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted autopsies Monday morning and ruled Fuentes Huaracha’s death a homicide and Gleason’s death a suicide.
Authorities said Fuentes Huaracha and Gleason were engaged in a prior domestic relationship.
Court documents obtained by WMTW sister station WMUR state that Fuentes Huaracha filed a criminal complaint in April accusing Gleason of sexual assault and stealing thousands of dollars she had saved to start a business. Gleason was later charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault, kidnapping and theft and was out on bail pending next steps in his case.
In a Facebook post, Berlin Mayor Robert Cone said Fuentes Huaracha was a beloved member of the community who opened the restaurant up for various fundraising efforts on multiple occasions.
“I was witness to how hard she worked to put together a very special Dia de Los Muertos celebration this past fall, as well as her generous, heartfelt efforts in helping with Guadalupe’s Soup Kitchen,” Cone said in his Facebook post. “She was a beacon of light, an inspiration, and an example of God’s grace here on Earth. Her positive spirit and dedication to her family, friends, our community, and her profession will be sorely missed.”