M.E.: Single gunshot killed woman, 45
Victim found in open New Hampshire storage unit
A single gunshot wound killed a New Hampshire woman who was found in a storage unit Sunday morning, officials said.
Jessica Purslow, 45, of Rochester was found about midnight Sunday after police responded to reports of an open unit at the Main Street Rochester Self Storage, according to reports.
Officials called the death “suspicious,” and a medical examiner performed an autopsy yesterday that determined Purslow died of a gunshot wound.
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and the Rochester Police Department are investigating the incident. Both agencies said there was no further information on the cause of death, pending investigation.
Police are looking for anyone with information on the incident or information on Purslow’s activities and whereabouts before her death.
Reports have also stated they are trying to locate surveillance video from the area.
Officials wouldn’t comment on who was renting the storage unit, but sources told the New Hampshire Union Leader that Purslow may have been homeless and using the storage unit as shelter.
“I think she parked there from time to time so that way she had a safe spot if she did have to sleep in her car,” said Safford West II, who was previously engaged to one of Purslow’s daughters.
“She was really nice. She was quirky and she had her moments, just like anybody would,” he told the newspaper. “She loved her kids. She always tried to get everyone together.”
Like investigators, Purslow’s loved ones are trying to piece together her last days to try to figure out how this incident happened. Stephanie Murphy, Purslow’s friend and a Rochester resident, can’t figure out what may have happened Saturday night.
“What was she doing in a storage unit at 12 o’clock at night?” Murphy told Boston 25. “It’s not like Jessie. You can’t tell me nobody knows anything. Somebody knows something.”
“We were raised together, she was in the same group home as me, we were roommates — Jessica goes way back with me,” she said to Boston 25. “Whatever was going on in her life I was going to be there.”
Anyone who was in the area of Rochester Self Storage or has information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Pat Emerson at the Rochester Police Department at 603-3307128.