Portsmouth’s 1986 Triple‑Fatal Arson Still Haunts New Hampshire

It was the early hours of October 11, 1986 when a blaze erupted at 314 Islington Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Firefighters were already busy responding to a false alarm elsewhere in the city when the inferno broke out, catching everyone off‑guard.

The flames spread with frightening speed, sealing the fate of two young men who lived there: 29‑year‑old Joseph Poulin and 24‑year‑old Terry Giles. Both were trapped inside one of the units and perished almost immediately as the heat became unbearable.

Sharing the apartment was their roommate, 39‑year‑old Linda Plummer. In a desperate attempt to escape, she leapt from a window, only to be engulfed by the flames. She survived the initial jump but suffered severe burns. After months of treatment, she succumbed to her injuries on March 30, 1987 at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Investigators quickly concluded that the fire was no accident. Evidence pointed to arson – a deliberately set blaze – yet despite exhaustive police work, the identity of the arsonist remains a mystery to this day. No one was ever charged, and the case sits among New Hampshire’s most perplexing unsolved homicides.

Over the decades, the community has never forgotten the tragedy. The victims’ families still hope for answers, and the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit keeps the file open, periodically reviewing new leads.

If you recall anything about that night – a strange scent, an unfamiliar face, a suspicious vehicle – the police urge you to come forward. Even the smallest detail could be the key that finally cracks the case.

Until then, the ghost of that October fire lingers in Portsmouth, a somber reminder that some mysteries linger far longer than the flames that sparked them.