When a 24-year-old New Hampshire woman is found gunned down outside a state park while walking her dog, police embark on a massive manhunt for her killer. The young man responsible would nearly escape their grasp… twice.
Valeri Blair Photo (Source) Portsmouth Herald: ‘Friends Trying to Cope with Shock of Murder’ By Holly Young.
Rye Police Department Composite Sketch (Source) Portsmouth Herald: ‘Murder Probe Underway in Rye’ By Holly Young.
Thomas Faragi 1982 Photo (Source) The Union Leader: ‘High Court Denies Appeal by Faragi in Murder Case’ By John Hart.
Thomas Faragi 2014 Photo (Source) Portsmouth Herald
Odiorne Point State Park Map (Source) Google
Odiorne Point State Park Image (Source) Sea Coast Science Center
Episode Source Material
- The Orlando Sentinel: Blair-Sherman Wedding Parties.
- The Orlando Sentinel: ‘112 Students Make Dean’s List’
- The Orlando Sentinel: Harking Back to Horse and Buggy Days. By Mark Losey.
- The Orlando Sentinel: ‘Poetry Read-In Scheduled By Deland Workshop’
- The Orlando Sentinel: ‘Woman Captures Seven First at Horse Show’
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Murder Probe Underway in Rye’ By Holly Young. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Murdered Woman a Dedicated Writer’ By Rae Francoeur. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Friends Trying to Cope with Shock of Murder’ By Holly Young. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Mrs. James A. Blair’ Obituary. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Rape Investigation Parallels Murder’ By Holly Young. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Murder Bits and Pieces’ By staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Local Man Held For Blair Murder’ By Doug Roberts and Holly Young. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- The Bradenton Herald: ‘Murder suspect nabbed’ By Christopher Clarke.
- The Associated Press via Valley News: ‘Man Charged With Murder’
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Once Inmate at State Hospital’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Tampa Bay Times: ‘Man Held in New England Slaying’ By Craig Basse.
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Murder Charge May Prompt New Legislation’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Tampa Bay Times: ‘Fugitive Asked for a Tryout’
- The Tampa Tribune: ‘Wanted Man Asked for Tryout’
- United Press International via The Naples Daily News: ‘Bosox Haven’t Any Room For a Man in Trouble’
- UPI News: ‘Thomas Faragi named on first degree murder warrant’ By staff.
- The Bradenton Herald: ‘New Hampshire Suspect Held Here’
- The Associated Press via Tampa Bay Times: ‘New Hampshire Murder Suspect Is Arrested’
- The Orlando Sentinel: ‘New Hampshire Man Charged with Murder of Lawyer’s Daughter’ By Staff.
- Florida Today: ‘Murder suspect nearly goes free’
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Paper Delayed’ By Staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Indictment’ By staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Indictment Returned Against Murder Suspect’ By Staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- The Bradenton Herald: ‘Murder Suspect to be Flown Home’ By Christopher Clarke.
- The Associated Press via Valley News: ‘Man Indicted For Portsmouth Murder’
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Indictments Slated This Week’ By Staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Hearing Today’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Arraigned’ By Staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Concord Monitor: ‘Murder Suspect Pleads Innocent’
- Concord Monitor: ‘Faragi Pleads Innocent.’
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Bail $300,000’ By staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Concord Monitor: ‘Murder Case Bail Set’
- The Associated Press via Concord Monitor: ‘Murder Suspect Charged With Rape’
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Jury Selection Starting’ By Staff. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Says He’s Unworried’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Jury Picking Process Draw Few Observers’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Jury Views Scene’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘No Eyewitness to Blair Killing’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Valeri Blair Still Breathing When Found’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Jogger Testifies in Murder Case’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Shell Casings Match Gun in Faragi Home’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Takes Stand in Own Defense’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- Portsmouth Herald: ‘Faragi Gets Life Without Parole’ By Stephen Mazurka. (hard copy scan courtesy of Portsmouth Public Library Special Collections)
- The Associated Press via Valley News: ‘Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder’
- State v. Faragi Supreme Court of New Hampshire Appeal: August 5th, 1985 (PDF hard copy only)
- Portsmouth Herald via Seacoastonline.com: ‘Man convicted of 1982 murder maintains his innocence.’ By Elizabeth Dinan.
- Portsmouth Herald via Seacoastonline.com: ‘A terrible loss: Friend recalls woman murdered in Rye.’ By Elizabeth Dinan.
- Valeri Blair Find A Grave
- Idiorne State Park Website
- Seacoast Science Center in Odiorne State Park website
- The Union Leader: ‘Woman, 25, Found Murdered in Rye’ By John Hart. Page 1 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Woman, 25, Found Murdered in Rye’ By John Hart. Page 2 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Portsmouth Man Held As Suspect in Seacoast Murder’ By John Hart. Page 1 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Portsmouth Man Held As Suspect in Seacoast Murder’ By John Hart. Page 2 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi’ Page 2 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi Arraigned For Blair Murder’ By John Hart. Page 1 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi Arraigned For Blair Murder’ By John Hart. Published April 16th, 1982. Accessed July 24th, 2023. Page 2 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi May Wait a Month For Decision on New Trial’ By John Hart. (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Murderer Seeks Sanity Hearing Declined Earlier’ By John Hart. Page 1 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi Trial Prosecution Continues’ By John Hart. Page 1 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi Trial Prosecution Continues’ By John Hart. Page 2 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Murder Weapon Was in Faragi Home’ By John Hart. (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi Guilty of Murder’ By John Hart. Published December 14th, 1982. Accessed July 24th, 2023. Page 1 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘Faragi Guilty of Murder’ By John Hart. Page 2 (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)
- The Union Leader: ‘High Court Denies Appeal by Faragi in Murder Case’ By John Hart. (hard copy scan courtesy of Manchester City Library)