3 indicted on murder charges for NH house killing, 2 others cooperating with prosecutors

3 indicted on murder charges for NH house killing

NASHUA, N.H. — Two of five young men charged in connection with the killing of a woman and an attack on her 11-year-old daughter inside their home have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of a plea deal.

Meanwhile, first-degree murder indictments were handed up Wednesday for the other three suspects in the Oct. 4, 2009, killing of Kimberly Cates, including against one teenager not previously accused of murder.

Stephen Spader, Christopher Gribble and William Marks were indicted on first-degree murder charges. Marks, 18, originally faced robbery, burglary and conspiracy charges. His indictment alleges that he acted with Spader and Gribble to “knowingly cause the death” of Cates; the document did not get more specific.

Spader and Gribble, according to a police affidavit, allegedly bragged to friends about killing Cates. They were indicted on a new charge of tampering with witnesses and informants, for allegedly threatening a friend with a knife.

The indictments were handed up by a special grand jury meeting in Hillsborough Superior Court in Nashua.

The fourth suspect, 18-year-old Quinn Glover, has agreed to plead guilty to robbery and other charges. Prosecutors will recommend a minimum prison sentence of 20 years for him.

The final suspect, Autumn Savoy, has agreed to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy and hindering apprehension or prosecution. Prosecutors said he came up with a plan to toss clothing and other items from the crime scene into the Nashua River. They will recommend a minimum of 8 1/2 years in prison for him.

Steven Spader’s attorney, Jonathan Cohen, said his client planned to plead not guilty. He declined to comment further. Messages left by The Associated Press for attorneys for Gribble and Marks weren’t immediately returned.

When questioned by police last year, Spader denied having anything to do with the crimes. Gribble had given a detailed account of the killing.

According to an affidavit released last month, Gribble, 20, told police that he and Spader, 18, agreed they would break into the house in Mont Vernon and that if anyone was inside “they would just kill the people in the home for fun.” They shut off the electricity and navigated their way through the home with the light from an iPod that police said belonged to Cates’ daughter, Jaimie.

Gribble told police the group found their way to the master bedroom, where Cates woke up and said, “Jaimie, is that you?”

Spader attacked Kimberly Cates with a machete, Gribble told investigators. Her daughter was stabbed in the face and chest by Gribble, who then threw her against a door and assumed she had died, police said. The girl later told police she pretended to be dead.

According to the affidavit, Marks admitted he took part in the break-in and entered the master bedroom but stayed by the door. Glover told police he had an anxiety attack while the four were driving around the neighborhood, went out for a walk and meditated, investigators said.

Associated Press Writer Kathy McCormack contributed to this report from Concord, N.H.