Attorney General Formella Announces Membership of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella today announces the membership of the newly established Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC).

The committee was created by legislation (SB 140-FN), signed into law by Governor Kelly Ayotte earlier this year, to conduct comprehensive, multidisciplinary reviews of deaths related to domestic violence in New Hampshire. The purpose of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee is to identify gaps in system responses and services, and critical points of interventions, that if addressed, could improve the systemic and community response to domestic violence in New Hampshire.

"Historically, more than half of the homicides handled by the Attorney General's Office have been related to domestic violence," said Attorney General Formella. "Each of these tragedies has a devastating impact-not only on the families and friends of the victims, but on the broader community. The work of this committee is designed to ensure that we are learning from these cases, strengthening our systems, and doing everything we can to prevent future fatalities. With this membership in place, New Hampshire is taking an important step forward in strengthening our response to domestic violence."

The DVFRC will operate under the strict confidentiality necessary to preserve the integrity of the case review process. At the request of Governor Ayotte, the first case reviewed by the Committee will be the tragic murder of Marisol Fuentes in Berlin, NH on July 6th of this year.

The Attorney General has appointed the following members to the committee:

• John Formella, Attorney General, New Hampshire Department of Justice
• Dr. Jennie Duval, Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
• Mike Donati, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Community, Family and Program Supports, DCYF
• Katja Fox, Director, Division for Behavioral Health, DHHS
• Detective Sergeant Sean Smarz, NH State Police - Troop F, Assistant Troop Commander
• Hon. Ellen V. Christo, Administrative Judge, NH Circuit Court
• Janet Carroll, RN CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P, SANE Program Director, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Sergeant Kevin O'Meara, Manchester Police Department, Domestic & Sexual Violence Unit
• Sergeant Mike Mosher, Jackson Police Department
• Jessica Erazo, Director, Domestic Violence Advocacy Project, NH Legal Assistance
• Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Peggy O'Neil, Executive Director, WISE, Lebanon
• Shanna O'Rorke, Assistant County Attorney, Cheshire County
• Cristina Brooks, Assistant County Attorney, Merrimack County Attorney's Office
• Ryan Grogan, Victim Witness Advocate, Portsmouth Police Department
• Deanna Campbell, Managing Attorney, NH Public Defender - Stratham Office
• Dr. Scott Hampton, Director, Ending the Violence (Batterers' Intervention Programming)

In addition to the above membership, the Attorney General has asked Investigator Bob Frechette of the Strafford County Attorney's Office to serve as a Special Advisor to the Committee.

The committee will have its first meeting in September or October, at which time a further meeting schedule will be established. A public biennial report, with non-identifying recommendations, will be issued in October 2026 and every two years thereafter. More frequent reports may be issued as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Committee.