Half a Century Later, New Hampshire Cold Case Identifies Ernest Gable as Judith Lord‘s Killer
After nearly five decades, the 1975 murder of Judith Lord in Concord, New hampshire, has been solved, with investigators identifying her neighbor, Ernest Gable, as the perpetrator. Though Gable died in 1987, authorities announced they would have charged him with First Degree Murder had he still been alive.
Judith Lord, along with her husband Gregory and their son, moved into the Concord Gardens apartment complex just three months before her death, returning from a period where Gregory was stationed in Germany. The couple’s relationship quickly deteriorated, culminating in an assault by Gregory Lord on May 4, 1975. He pleaded guilty to simple assault and was fined $100,subsequently moving out of the apartment,taking nearly all their possessions with him,leaving judith,their son,a bed,and a crib.
Despite being initially considered a suspect, Gregory Lord was cleared after his alibi was corroborated by his brother and grandmother. Judith Lord resigned from her job at a nearby nursing home following the assault and found herself financially vulnerable. She cashed her final paycheck the day before her murder and spent the evening socializing with neighbors.
According to testimony, Judith Lord had expressed fear of both her husband and Ernest Gable for some time, due to Gable’s “persistent and unwanted advances.” She confided in her sister that Gable ”had made remarks to her about wanting to see her nude.” Witnesses later came forward detailing disturbing interactions, including an incident where Gable knocked on her door at 2 a.m. while his wife was away, asking if she “wanted to party with him.” One coworker recalled Lord saying Gable was “always bothering her and hanging around her doors and windows.”
On the night of may 20, 1975, Gable’s wife reported hearing Judith Lord in the shower shortly before midnight. around 12:50 a.m., neighbors reported hearing screaming from Lord’s apartment, followed by sounds believed to be intercourse.
Evidence collected at the scene, including a purple and a damp white towel, contained DNA evidence. While the case remained unsolved for decades, advancements in forensic technology allowed investigators to link Gable to the crime.
Attorney General John Formella stated that if alive today, Gable would have been charged with First degree Murder for knowingly causing Lord’s death during aggravated felonious sexual assault, and for purposely causing her death by strangulation.
“It is my hope that this long-awaited conclusion will finally bring peace and closure to Judy Lord’s family and the entire Concord community after nearly five decades of delayed justice,” Formella said. “This resolution proves that no cold case is ever truly closed until the truth is found.”
