In an ongoing effort to unearth physical evidence in the unsolved homicide of Catherine “Cathy” Millican, the state’s Cold Case Unit is conducting a search of the Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area in New London throughout the day on Wednesday in collaboration with the Department of Fish and Game.
Late into the evening on October 25, 1978, Millican’s body was discovered several hundred yards into the woods off Route 11 in New London. The 27-year-old Sunapee resident was last seen the previous afternoon, when she told people she planned to go birdwatching. Multiple witnesses reported seeing her brown Volkswagen Rabbit parked near the entrance to the wetland area.
An autopsy found Millican died of multiple stab wounds.
The woods where her body was found are now part of the Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area. The Cold Cases Unit stated on Wednesday morning that the search of the wildlife area is expected to continue throughout the day and poses no danger to the public.
Last week marked 47 years since Millican’s death.
Her family shared a statement through the Cases Unit: “It has been 47 years since Cathy was taken from us. She was an artist, a photographer, an ornithologist and a national sailing champion. We remain ever hopeful that her case will be solved and that closure will ease the pain of everyone who knew her. We are encouraged to know that her case has not been abandoned but continues to be worked.”
The New Hampshire Department of Justice is asking the public to refrain from speculation about Millican’s death and “respect the privacy of residents and private property in and around the search area.”
The state is requesting that anyone with information pertaining to Millican’s death contact the Cold Cases Unit at (603) 271-2663.
