Shari Roth's Unsolved Murder: A Renewed Plea for Justice Decades Later

It’s a story that echoes through the tranquil New Hampshire mountains, an unsettling mystery spanning nearly half a century. Imagine a bright, vibrant young woman, full of life and dedicated to helping others, venturing out for a peaceful hike one Sunday afternoon. That was Shari Roth, just 22 years old, on August 21, 1977, when she set off alone on the Sawyer Brook Trail in Livermore. What should have been a rejuvenating day in nature tragically became the beginning of a haunting cold case that continues to baffle investigators and grieve her family.

Shari, originally from Saugus, Massachusetts, was a beloved member of the North Conway community. She was pursuing a career as a social worker, having studied at the University of Massachusetts, and dedicated her compassionate spirit to her work at the Women's Health Clinic at Memorial Hospital, offering crucial abortion and health counseling. Friends described her as popular, lively, and truly a force for good. Her absence that evening, when she didn't return home, immediately raised alarms.

A few agonizing days later, on August 24, 1977, the worst fears were confirmed. Shari’s body was discovered, and an autopsy revealed the horrific truth: she had been strangled to death. The grim scene, with her body found unclothed, led investigators to consider the possibility of sexual assault. Her car, a Saab, was later located off Route 302 in Crawford Notch, unsettlingly close to one of the trail entrances, a silent witness to the tragedy.

For 49 long years, Shari’s murder has remained a stubborn cold case, a source of enduring pain and unanswered questions for her loved ones. But hope, you see, springs eternal, especially when dedicated professionals refuse to let a case gather dust. As the 49th anniversary of her death approaches on August 21, 2026, the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, working hand-in-hand with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, has decided to reignite the search for answers.

Attorney General John M. Formella and New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall recently announced this renewed public appeal. And what’s particularly compelling this time around is the release of previously unseen photographs of Shari Roth. It’s a powerful move, putting a face to the tragedy once more, hoping that a fresh look at her image might jog a long-dormant memory for someone, somewhere. Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, who heads the Cold Case Unit, underscored the senselessness of it all, reminding us that Shari was simply a "dedicated social worker enjoying the state's natural beauty when her life was violently taken."

Investigators are now casting a wide net, hoping to unearth any fragments of information that might have been overlooked or simply forgotten over time. They are specifically reaching out to anyone who might have been hiking the Sawyer Brook Trail, or visiting the Livermore, Bartlett, or Lincoln areas between August 20-24, 1977. Think back, if you can. Did you live or work in North Conway during the summer of 1977? Did you notice anything, anything at all, that seemed unusual or out of place?

There’s also a very specific detail they're keen to clarify: the owner of a red Volkswagen Bug. This distinctive car was spotted parked at the entrance to the Sawyer Pond Trail on that fateful day, August 21, 1977. While the owner isn't considered a suspect, investigators believe they might hold crucial, helpful information. Perhaps you owned a red VW Bug back then, or knew someone who did, and were in the area? Even the smallest detail could make a monumental difference. Furthermore, the Cold Case Unit is making a rather unique request, asking for personal hiking logs or journals from anyone who was in the Sawyer Pond Trail or Mount Carrigain areas around that time. Imagine, a forgotten entry in a dusty old journal finally bringing a piece of the puzzle into view!

Shari Roth's family, bless their hearts, has maintained a website dedicated to her memory and this ongoing investigation at www.shariroth.com. It's a testament to their unwavering commitment to seeking justice for a life stolen far too soon. The hope is that with this renewed push, combined with the power of public memory and modern investigative techniques, the truth about Shari’s final moments will finally emerge, offering some semblance of peace after nearly five decades.