New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
March 30, 2023

Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
michael.s.garrity@doj.nh.gov | (603) 931-9375

Benjamin J. Agati, Senior Assistant Attorney General
Benjamin.J.Agati@doj.nh.gov | (603) 419-0124

Update on Death Investigation in Dover, New Hampshire

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and Dover Police Chief William Breault announce additional information regarding the investigation into the deaths of two adults in Dover, New Hampshire.

At approximately 3:14 p.m. on March 28, 2023, Dover Police Department officers responded to a home on Dowaliby Court in Dover after receiving a call from a home care service asking for a welfare check on the residents. Inside the home, police found the deceased body of Christine Navish (age 58), as well as the body of Sean Navish (age 56). Mr. and Mrs. Navish both lived in the home together with no other residents.

Earlier today, New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie Duval conducted autopsies on both individuals. Dr. Duval determined that Christine Navish's cause of death was asphyxiation, by smothering, and her manner of death was homicide. Dr. Duval determined that Sean Navish's cause of death was asphyxiation by suffocation and/or smothering, and his manner of death was suicide.

Although the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident remains active and ongoing, based on evidence gathered to date it has been determined that Mr. Navish asphyxiated Mrs. Navish, and then intentionally asphyxiated himself.

No additional information is expected to be released at this time.

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658