New Hampshire Investigators Identify Woman Found Dead in Marlborough After 50 Years: The Case of Nancy Gale Erickson
Cold Case Solved: Identity of Woman Found in Marlborough Revealed After 50 Years
MANCHESTER, N.H. — In a significant breakthrough, New Hampshire investigators have identified a woman whose remains were discovered over 50 years ago in Marlborough. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office announced on Wednesday that the deceased is Nancy Gale Erickson, who was just 21 years old at the time of her death.
Erickson’s body was found on April 16, 1974, in a wooded area off Route 124, but it wasn’t until recent forensic testing that her identity was confirmed. Investigators determined she died in late fall of 1973, although the cause and manner of her death remain unknown.
“This was the first step, but we now have to answer what happened to Nancy and why she wound up where she did,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General Chris Knowles, emphasizing the ongoing quest for justice.
Erickson, originally from Bay Shore, New York, had lived in Tampa, Florida, and Brattleboro, Vermont, before her disappearance. She was reported missing by her family in 2021, nearly five decades after she vanished. Prior to that, her family had filed missing persons reports in other states.
At the time of her death, Erickson was described as between 5 feet, 2 inches and 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with reddish-brown hair. She was found wearing a distinctive outfit that included a light brown corduroy coat, a blue-gray zippered jacket, and mismatched socks.
Investigators revealed that Erickson had abruptly left Tampa in 1973 with a duffel bag and no clear destination. Her siblings believe the emotional toll of her nursing career may have contributed to her sudden departure. She had worked at Tampa General Hospital and later at the Brattleboro Retreat, where she was last employed before disappearing on October 30, 1973.
In a troubling twist, Erickson was arrested in October 1973 for car theft in Putney, Vermont. She told the judge she was on her way to visit friends when the vehicle ran out of gas. After receiving probation, she returned to Brattleboro but left her job and home shortly thereafter, never to be heard from again.
Authorities are now reaching out to the public for assistance in piecing together the final years of Erickson’s life. They are particularly interested in connecting with anyone who knew her during her time in Brattleboro, at Corning Community College, or at Tampa General Hospital.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit Tip Line at 800-525-5555 or via email at coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov. Tips can also be submitted online through the New Hampshire Department of Justice website.
As the investigation continues, the hope remains that uncovering the truth about Nancy Gale Erickson’s life and untimely death will bring closure to her family and friends.