PORTSMOUTH — A Salem, Massachusetts man wanted in connection with a homicide in that city was arrested Sept. 9 in downtown Portsmouth after being stopped by Maine State Police on Interstate 95 near the Piscataqua River Bridge, court documents and local police said.
How police located and detained the suspect
Portsmouth police and court filings identify the suspect as Paul Morey, 50, who was arrested at the Courtyard by Marriott on Market Street after being transported there by a Maine State Trooper. According to an affidavit filed by Portsmouth Lt. Jordan Wells, the initial police contact occurred on the Piscataqua River Bridge where a trooper observed a man walking on the highway.
“The Maine State Trooper offered the male a transport off the bridge and highway, and during a courtesy transport the male made a phone call to a family member, who disclosed to the Maine State Trooper that (the) Salem, MA Police Department was looking for him regarding an investigation,”
The affidavit says the trooper drove the man to the Courtyard by Marriott, where Massachusetts authorities later arrived and spoke with him. A warrant accusing Morey of murder was then drafted and granted by a judge in Salem District Court. Portsmouth police charged Morey with fleeing from Massachusetts, and he was taken to the Portsmouth police station following the arrest.
Allegations in Massachusetts
Massachusetts authorities reported that a 42-year-old woman was found dead Sept. 8 on Cabot Street in Salem during a welfare check. The Essex County district attorney’s office said the death has been ruled a homicide. New Hampshire court records list Morey as a Cabot Street resident in Salem, and the Essex County office said a 50-year-old Salem man was arrested in Portsmouth in connection with the woman’s death.
Multi-state cooperation
Portsmouth police Sgt. Kevin McCarthy confirmed that Portsmouth officers assisted Massachusetts and Maine authorities in the arrest. The case highlights routine — but critical — cooperation among state and local agencies when a suspect crosses jurisdictional lines. In this instance, Maine troopers initially removed the man from a dangerous location on the bridge and carried out a courtesy transport that led to the identification and detention of an individual wanted in Massachusetts.
What charges have been filed so far
In New Hampshire, Morey has been charged as an alleged fugitive from justice, a Class B felony tied to the murder allegation in Salem. Portsmouth police additionally charged him with fleeing from Massachusetts. The murder accusation itself originates from Massachusetts; the arrest in Portsmouth follows the warrant issued by a Salem District Court judge.
| Key timeline | Details |
|---|---|
| Sept. 8 | Woman found dead on Cabot Street in Salem during a welfare check; death ruled a homicide |
| Sept. 9 | Man seen walking on Piscataqua River Bridge; Maine trooper transports him to Portsmouth hotel; Massachusetts authorities obtain murder warrant; arrest at Courtyard by Marriott |
Next steps and public safety notes
Because the homicide investigation is led by Massachusetts authorities and the warrant was issued by a Salem District Court judge, further criminal proceedings related to the murder allegation will take place under Massachusetts jurisdiction. New Hampshire authorities are handling the local charges related to the interstate flight and the arrest.
Officials have not released the identity of the victim. Portsmouth police and the Essex County district attorney’s office provided the facts included in the court affidavit and arrest reports. No additional details about a motive or other possible suspects were available in the documents provided to Portsmouth police.
Information for the public
- If you have information about the incident in Salem or the movements of the suspect prior to the arrest, contact the Essex County district attorney’s office or Salem police.
- For details about the local arrest or related Portsmouth charges, contact Portsmouth Police Department records or the Portsmouth Police Department non-emergency line.
This arrest underscores how routine encounters on busy regional corridors can become pivotal in multi-jurisdictional investigations. Authorities involved in the case say they will release further information as charges are formalized and as public safety allows.
Reporter: Bethany Sokolov, State Correspondent
