Portsmouth, N.H. – On the 44th anniversary of Tammy Little’s death, the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit unveiled a newly released photograph of the young woman whose 1982 murder remains unsolved. Little, then a 20‑year‑old student at Portsmouth Beauty School, was found dead in her apartment at 315 Maplewood Avenue after being missing for three days.
Details of the 1982 homicide
Little was last seen alive in the early morning of Saturday, Oct. 16, 1982. When she failed to appear at school, friends and family grew concerned. Three days later, police discovered her body inside her apartment, noting massive head injuries as the cause of death. An autopsy confirmed the injuries were fatal.
Family remembrance and call for help
Little’s family continues to honor her memory. In a heartfelt statement they described her as “the most joyful person,” a friend who “lifted you up” and a “guardian angel” whose light still shines for them. They ask anyone with information to come forward.
Cold Case Unit’s renewed effort
Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, chief of the Cold Case Unit, said the agency is working closely with Portsmouth police detectives to re‑examine the case. “We are releasing these new photographs today with the hope that someone who knew her, perhaps a former classmate at the Portsmouth Beauty School or a resident of the Maplewood Avenue neighborhood, will remember a detail they have not previously shared,” Knowles said. The unit is reviewing all case files, evaluating physical evidence for modern forensic testing, and pursuing any new leads.
Investigators are specifically seeking information from:
- Classmates and peers who attended Portsmouth Beauty School in 1982.
- Former neighbors or anyone who lived near 315 Maplewood Avenue at the time.
- Anyone who may have seen or spoken to Little between Oct. 16 and Oct. 19, 1982.
How to provide tips
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Cold Case Unit Tip Line at 603‑271‑2663 or email [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted online at www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/cold-case. The unit emphasizes that even small details can be critical, regardless of how much time has passed.
The renewed outreach reflects a broader trend of law‑enforcement agencies leveraging modern technology and community memory to solve decades‑old crimes. While the case remains open, officials remain hopeful that the new photograph will spark the breakthrough needed to bring justice for Tammy Little and her loved ones.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
