New Hampshire Man Faces Prison for Manslaughter in Father’s Death

A man from New Hampshire is facing a prison sentence of up to 24 years after pleading guilty to killing his father more than two decades ago. Douglas Herlihy, now aged 40, confessed to committing the crime when he was 17, according to the New Hampshire Department of Justice.

The relationship between Paul Herlihy and his son Douglas was turbulent, marked by previous instances of violence and law enforcement intervention. On August 27, 2003, Paul was discovered deceased at his Milford, New Hampshire home during a welfare check requested by a relative.

Records from the case show that officers entered the home by a window. They immediately detected “hundreds of flies and the strong odor of decomposition.” Paul Herlihy’s body was found wrapped in carpet and covered with a blue tarp in the kitchen. Investigators noted blood spatters throughout the kitchen, including on the cabinets, refrigerator, walls, and ceiling.

An autopsy confirmed the death was a homicide, resulting from blunt-force trauma within four days of discovery. The medical examiner identified multiple injuries, including damage to Paul Herlihy’s nose, jaw, skull, and voice box. Investigators determined that repeated blows to the head caused his death.

Outside Douglas Herlihy’s bedroom window, police found carpet and padding stained with blood. The open window suggested the stained items had been pushed out from his room. DNA testing linked the blood on these items to Paul Herlihy.

Inside Douglas’s bedroom, a towel-covered closet door revealed handwritten words stating “I WILL SEE YOU IN HELL” once removed, according to the arrest affidavit. Initially, a killer remained unidentified.

In subsequent years, Douglas had various legal issues, including arrests relating to drugs and a stolen vehicle. During an arrest in 2020, he reportedly told officers that he had previously “beat my first body when I was 17,” implying involvement in past killings, per his arrest affidavit.

Douglas consistently denied his father’s murder unless questioned by authorities, when an attorney was his requested contact.

The investigation culminated in an arrest warrant issued for Douglas Herlihy in June 2025, leading to his quick arrest in Saugus, Massachusetts. He was extradited back to New Hampshire.

Douglas faced charges of two counts of second-degree murder and evidence falsification. A plea deal concluded with him receiving a 12 to 24-year sentence in New Hampshire State Prison for manslaughter. The plea also included a suspended sentence for falsifying evidence.

“This case is a reminder that the pursuit of justice does not end with the passage of time,” New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella stated. “I commend the investigators and prosecutors whose continued efforts brought this case to an important resolution.”

A court date for a sentencing hearing is scheduled for early 2027. The Herlihy family has requested privacy and declined media interviews, as noted by the New Hampshire Department of Justice Cold Case Unit.

The Herlihy case highlights the importance of persistent efforts in solving cold cases, a commitment reiterated by the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit and associated law enforcement.