Posted on 07/12/2011 11:28:41 AM PDT by Colofornian
WEARE, New Hampshire (ABC 4 News) - In a bizarre and tragic twist, the woman who led to the political downfall last year of one of the most powerful men in Utah state government, is now dead.
Cheryl Mader was murdered in a small New Hampshire town about 30 miles northwest of Manchester.
The man broke into Cheryl Maher's home in Weare, New Hampshire early Sunday morning. He shot and killed her before turned the gun on himself and committing suicide.
Maher was not the killer's only target. Earlier that same morning, the same man broke into another home about a mile away. Senior assistant to the New Hampshire attorney general, Susan Morrell said, "It appears that the male involved in the murder-suicide was also responsible for that armed home invasion."
During the home invasion, he'd tried to shoot a man, but the gun misfired. It did not misfire when he aimed it at Maher.
Maher was a twice divorced mother of four. Last year she revealed that back in 1985, she stepped naked into a hot tub with Kevin Garn. She was 15 years old at the time. Garn was 28 and married.
In a midnight confession on the last day of the 2010 legislative session, State Representative Garn took to the floor of the house and admitted to the hot tub encounter. Garn told fellow lawmakers, "25 years ago I made a mistake and it has come back to haunt me." He denied there was any sexual contact. He also confessed to paying Maher $150,000 in 2002 to keep her quiet, saying, "Now that this issue has come up again, it is apparent to me that this payment was a mistake."
When the confessions were over, Garn resigned as majority leader of the House.
Not long after Garn's resignation, Maher also revealed that in 2008, she'd sent a 7-page letter about Garn to President Thomas S. Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She explained that she'd grown up in the same Ward with him. "This was something that was ongoing for months," Maher said recounting the contents of the letter to a TV reporter. "I've known Kevin for years. He was my Sunday school teacher."
Last year's political drama here in Utah is now just a footnote to the bigger murder mystery in New Hampshire. The A.G. isn't saying anything about the killer or his motive. Morrell won't even say whether he knew Maher, or she was the victim of a random attack.
The scandal may have defined Maher in the eyes of the public, but not in the eyes of her friends. Many have posted condolences on her facebook page. T.J. Jones wrote, "SHOCKING! SAD! TRAGIC! Cheryl, I will miss our chats we had together! A thoughtless, mindless person has taken you selfishly from the world you brought so much light to. I will miss you Cheryl. Rest in peace....."
Some previous articles re: Kevin Garn & Cheryl Maher:
* Cheryl Maher says Kevin Garn lied about hot tub contact
* (Utah) Rep. Garn resigns following hot tub confession
* LDS Church says local leaders handled claims against Garn
* Garn pleaded guilty in 2006 to alcohol-related charge [Lds bishop DUI]
Sad.
yes, a coincidence fer sure.
Let's bring the Utah politicians up to Presidential level.
And what's with the New England connection?
Very sad.
My red flags are up.Does anyone remember two little boys on a railroad track in Arkansas ?
Or a mispositioned head to an airplane propeller ?
And does NO ONE question the length and depth of ozero's ability to call on some goons, or in this case (if my conspiritorial mind is even close to correct ..) a useful idiot.
Oh .. what does this have to do with ozero?
Maybe nuthin', but we have no real clue how deep political shenanigans go nor for how long and whom's connected to whom.
OK ... I'll take my meds now.
Yet another poorly written “news” article. I’ve read the story four times trying to determine if Kevin Garn was the shooter or another person. Garn’s political affiliation is also not stated.
I remember the train track murders. Followed it a long time. Lead back to Clinton. Of course, nothing ever came of it. Strange story. Still lots of info on the internet about it.
“And does NO ONE question the length and depth of ozero’s ability to call on some goons, or in this case (if my conspiritorial mind is even close to correct ..) a useful idiot. {sic}
Not sure if he would call on a goon to murder a woman and then kill himself all because the woman outted a Republican politician as being a child rapist.
According to the Concord Monitor: The two people found dead at 1724 River Road in Weare on Sunday were identified yesterday as Cheryl Maher and the son of her new fiance by friends, family and neighbors.
Source: Teen killed dad's fiancee, friends say
There is a question which nags me here. Understanding that he broke into someone else’s home first, and then broke into her home, why did he shoot himself after shooting her, and not shoot himself at the first house?
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110712/NEWS03/707129995
Coverage in the Manchester Union-Leader
Yeah ... THAT'S what I'm thinkin' too.
It just don't pass the smell test.
Now, I AM an older man, and approaching senility (I think my toes have tested the water temp a few times ...) ... but still ...
It's starnge imo.
She could be Sandra Bullock’s sister.
Unusual to say the least, since he is a Republican.
Gonna take the same meds, knarf...
Two peeps show up to do the job: Two to do the “cover-job” down the street, two to show up and break in, one to finish off the girl, one (to the duped surprize of the girl do-er) to help with the suicide.
No questions. just some sad crazy tragedy.
I use the commercial size box of Reynolds wrap, btw.
Other than the suicide, I would have bet Blood Atonement.
Great movie.
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