Portsmouth 1986 Triple‑Fatal Arson Still Unsolved

On the chilly morning of October 11, 1986, the city of Portsmouth was jolted awake by a false fire alarm that sent crews scrambling to the other side of town. While firefighters were still responding, a second alarm—this one far more deadly—blared from an apartment building at 314 Islington Street.

At roughly 3:30 a.m., flames erupted inside the third‑floor unit where three young adults were staying. Joseph Poulin, 29, and Terry Giles, 24, found themselves trapped by the inferno. Their roommate, 39‑year‑old Linda Plummer, managed to scramble to a window and, in a desperate bid to escape, leapt out of the building. She survived the fall but suffered severe burns. Poulin and Giles perished in the blaze, and Plummer lingered for five months before succumbing to her injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital on March 30, 1987.

Investigators quickly determined the fire had not been accidental. The patterns of the blaze, the speed at which it spread, and the presence of accelerants all pointed to arson. Yet, despite a thorough police investigation and the passage of more than three decades, the person who set the fire remains a mystery.

Local law enforcement, now working through the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, still welcomes any information that might shed light on who lit the match. If you recall anything—no matter how small or vague—your tip could be the missing piece of a puzzle that has lingered far too long.

The case continues to haunt the community, a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary lives can be snuffed out by a single, malicious act. Families and friends of the victims still seek answers, and the city of Portsmouth hopes that, one day, justice will finally be served.

Feel compelled to help? Reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit with any details, however insignificant they may seem. Every whisper could become the breakthrough the investigation needs.