Police debunk stab claim by homeowner

Police say they have debunked a Pelham, N.H., homeowner’s claim that he was stabbed during a terrifying confrontation with two men who he said broke into his home and locked his dog in a closet.

The alleged ruse went so far the night of Aug. 22 as to send the homeowner to Holy Family Hospital in Methuen to be treated for two stab wounds.

Police in Salem, N.H., meanwhile, dispatched a K-9 unit to hunt down the two suspects the 53-year-old homeowner described seeing flee out his back door.

“The initial call indicated that two assailants had stabbed the homeowner and then fled (the) residence,” Pelham police Capt. Stephen R. Toom said.

“The Pelham Police Detective Division conducted an exhaustive and thorough follow-up investigation into the matter.”

That investigation, he said, included reviewing surveillance footage, the timeline surrounding the purported crime, cellphone record analysis, blood pattern analysis, the 911 recording and witness statements.

Toom said police also conducted “multiple interviews” with the homeowner.

“Upon analysis of their investigation, the detectives determined that false information had initially been reported to police and, furthermore, a stabbing by an assailant did not occur,” he said. “It was also determined that an attempted burglary/home invasion also did not occur.”

Toom added in his statement, “Due to (the) ongoing nature of this case, no further details will be provided at this time.”

Police have not identified the homeowner by name.

Attempts to reach the homeowner yesterday were unsuccessful.