In a message welcoming Concord School District students and staff back from April vacation, Superintendent Kathleen Murphy reassured families that measures are in place to protect students following the double murder of Concord couple Steve and Wendy Reid on trails close to two elementary schools.
The bodies of the Concord retirees Steve and Wendy Reid were discovered off the Marsh Loop trail days after the couple went missing. Both had been shot multiple times, autopsies revealed.
The Broken Ground trails where the Reids were found on April 21 are not far from Broken Ground School, which has students in grades 3 through 5, and Mill Brook School, with kindergarteners through 2nd graders. The two schools share a campus on Curtisville Road.
In a letter scheduled to be sent Sunday night, Murphy acknowledged the double homicide and offered sympathy to the families of the Reids. The couple’s two children and extended family released a statement last week thanking police for their work on the case and saying the couple shared a love of adventure, fitness and travel.
“As students return to school on Monday at Broken Ground and Mill Brook, we recognize that there may be concerns about the safety of students,” Murphy wrote. “In preparation for the students’ return to school and in consultation with the Concord Police, I want to assure families and staff that all safety protocols are in place.”
Murphy also told families that if children experience anxiety about the tragedy, they should reach out to school staff. She wrote that school counselors, psychologists and administrators were prepared to address any concerns from parents or students.
The Reids left their Alton Woods apartment on April 18 for a walk, and family members reported them missing on April 20. No arrests have been made. Police and investigators have repeatedly asked anyone who saw the Reids before their deaths or who walked on the trails on April 18 to share tips. The Concord Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations are all working to investigate the murders.
Broken Ground and Mill Brook teachers habitually use the trails where the Reids were found for walks or science lessons. “We’ll curtail that for now,” Murphy said in an interview Friday. “The students are going to be limited on the grounds.”
Murphy said that counselors and psychologists at Mill Brook and Broken Ground will meet with principals and staff Monday morning to address any concerns and remind staff about safety measures.
She said she anticipated that students might ask questions about the murders. “They sometimes don’t understand the breadth of the situation, so our teachers will be prepared with some support from psychologists and counselors to respond appropriately to the youngsters,” Murphy said.
Murphy said she had consulted with Concord Police Chief Brad Osgood in anticipation of the students’ return from April break on May 2.
She also urged families to explain the Reids’ deaths to their kids at home.
“They ought to make sure that they reinforce that the children are safe, that the school is safe to place for them, so there’s not any anxiety over this tragedy,” she said.