CONCORD, NH — Following the release of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee’s first report and recommendations, Governor Kelly Ayotte praised the Committee’s efforts and reiterated her commitment to strengthening protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence in New Hampshire.
“It is critical that we improve protections for victims of domestic violence so that our state never sees another tragedy like the murder of Marisol Fuentes in Berlin,” said Governor Ayotte. “I thank the Attorney General and members of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee for the time, effort, and tremendous care that went into this report and the recommendations in it. I look forward to working together to implement these recommendations and strengthen our laws so we can prevent future tragedies and ensure victims have the protection they deserve.”
Governor Ayotte signed a law to create the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee in July of 2025 alongside a sweeping package of legislation to expand protections for crime victims and increase penalties for crimes like human trafficking. Attorney General John Formella served as chair of the Committee.
“Domestic violence is a factor in more than half of the homicides in New Hampshire. Every domestic violence-related fatality is a tragedy that impacts loved ones and the broader community. We stand with all victims and survivors of domestic violence, and we have an obligation to learn from these tragedies and ask what we can do differently to prevent the next one,” said Attorney General Formella. “This Committee gives New Hampshire a stronger, multidisciplinary process for examining these cases and identifying opportunities to save lives. This report provides concrete recommendations to strengthen offender accountability, improve victim safety and support, enhance coordination among law enforcement, prosecutors, courts and victim service providers, and promote earlier intervention. No single agency can solve this problem alone. The work does not end with this report; it begins here. The New Hampshire Department of Justice is committed to working with our partners across the Granite State to put these recommendations into action.”
“Domestic violence homicides are preventable. Every life that is lost leaves families and communities asking what could have been done to prevent it,” said Alyssa Dandrea, Community Relations Specialist for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “This report gives New Hampshire specific recommendations to strengthen offender accountability, recognize danger earlier, and improve protection for victims and their children. We thank Governor Ayotte and the NH Department of Justice for making this work a priority, and we are committed to helping turn these recommendations into action.”
Recommendations outlined in the report include:
- Create an enhanced level of offense for subsequent domestic violence
- Explore domestic violence compliance efforts within the court system.
- Explore evidence-based risk assessment tools or guides to be used by judges in both civil and criminal cases.
- Assess the disparities between counties for accountability for offenders, including but not limited to pre-trial and post-trial services.
- Increase knowledge on domestic violence protective order violations and appropriate charges.
- Train dispatchers and call takers on the dynamics of domestic violence.
- Strengthen organizational responses to compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress among law enforcement and prosecution personnel.
- Explore the creation of Domestic Violence High Risk Response Teams.
- Promote system-based victim advocacy for criminal cases handled in Circuit Court.
- Revive domestic violence coordinating councils.
- Expand ACERT teams to additional communities where appropriate.
