In September of 1981, a young, vibrant woman was beaten to death in her Portsmouth NH apartment in the early morning hours. Only a year later, in October 1982, another woman was killed in an eerily similar fashion. Police would be without answers for 41 years, until familial DNA finally solved at least one of these murders. The other, however remains unsolved. This is the story of Laura Kempton and Tammy Elizabeth Little.

TW: Violence against women, sexual assault, graphic descriptions of death, descriptions of sexual behaviors

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For each victim I work to place flowers at their grave site, if their burial information is available. I do this by either driving there myself if I’m in the local area, or sending flowers via a delivery service. If you’d like to help offset the costs and in turn show your support for the victims, you can donate any amount through this link. 

If you'd like to get a hold of us, please visit us at www.crossingtapepodcast.com or email us at [email protected]. If you'd like to suggest a case, please do so here ⁠https://forms.gle/Gqv2h9Se4qm8yH9s5⁠ 

References: 

For Laura’s case:

https://www.eagletribune.com/news/new_hampshire/killer-identified-in-1981-portsmouth-murder-of-laura-kempton/article_3195fb16-2805-11ee-bda0-bb3bb9c1919b.html 

https://www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/cold-case/victim-list/laura-kempton.htm 

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/closure-cold-case-rape-and-murder-of-woman-believed-to-have-been-beaten-to-death-with-wine-bottle-in-1981-finally-solved/ 

https://www.wmur.com/article/portsmouth-new-hampshire-laura-kempton-case-solved/44601938# 

https://www.doj.nh.gov/news/2023/20230720-kempton-murder-resolved.htm

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-fighting-crime-with/128628864/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-few-details-released-on/128628921/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-suspect-may-be/128779558/ 

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/portsmouth-herald/2008/03/28/hanover-street-bids-farewell-to/52468450007/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-suspect-in-the-killings/130631853/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-kempton-murder-suspect/130631984/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-reward-for-information-on-la/130632108/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-suspect-in-laura-kempton/130632265/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-updated-reward-for-infor/130632375/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-few-details-released-on/130632631/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-killing-took-place-in-ch/130632745/ 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/256902983/laura-kempton 

For Tammy’s case:

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-unsolved-tammy-little/41658768# 

https://medium.com/@yasminscherrer/are-these-cases-related-the-murders-of-laura-kempton-and-tammy-little-31c5653d2390 
https://www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/cold-case/victim-list/tammy-little.htm