Seacoast Online – May 12, 2025
By IAN LENAHAN
PORTSMOUTH — The body of a minor was found Monday morning in the Piscataqua River, according to New Hampshire State Police. They died by suicide after jumping from the high-level Interstate 95 bridge late Sunday. The victim was under 18 years old, according to state police spokesperson Tyler Dumont. The sex and age of the person who died was not immediately released. State police are investigating the third recent suicide from local bridges connecting Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine.
“At this time, investigators do not believe the death is suspicious,” Dumont said Monday afternoon. Public safety personnel from both sides of the interstate responded shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday following a report of a stopped and empty vehicle on the southbound side of the bridge, Dumont said. In the dark, responders searched the river until 11:30 p.m. Sunday, then pausing the search until daylight. Emergency crews picked up the search effort Monday morning and located the minor’s body around 6 a.m., per Dumont. “The State Police remind anyone struggling with a mental health crisis that help is available,” Dumont said in a statement. “Anyone can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 for free and confidential support for themselves, a friend, or a loved one.”
The incident was the third confirmed report of a person jumping from the bridges connecting Portsmouth and Kittery in less than two weeks. An unidentified man died by suicide after jumping from the Piscataqua River Bridge the night of April 30. Another person jumped from the nearby Sarah Mildred Long Bridge roughly two hours later, though authorities were not made aware of that fact until the following morning. Law enforcement are still searching for the person missing from the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge as of Monday, said Portsmouth police Capt. David Keaveny. “Marine Patrol has an active and open search for that body, and that’s all we have right now, unfortunately,” Keaveny said Monday. Suicide prevention signs will be installed on the Piscataqua River Bridge this year, according to leaders from the Seacoast Mental Health Center. The signs will include the 988 national crisis lifeline.
Authorities seek information from public for investigation
The Portsmouth fire and police departments, the Newington Police Department, the Kittery, Maine harbormaster and the U.S. Coast Guard aided state police in their investigation into the minor’s death. Members of the public with information about the minor’s death are asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Seth Alie at Seth.P.Alie@dos.nh.gov.