Duane Rolfe Indicted for First-Degree Murder of Sister

Duane Rolfe was indicted April 16 by a Grand Jury on two counts of murder – first degree murder for purposely causing the death of his sister, Judith Rolfe, by striking her repeatedly with a blunt object; and second-degree murder for recklessly causing her death by "manifesting an extreme indifference to human life."

"I'll be calling Superior Court in the morning to find out an arraignment date," said Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley.

On January 19 Nashua Police Chief John Seusing and state Attorney General Michael Delaney announced the arrest of Duane Rolfe, initially charged with second-degree murder in the death of his sister, Judith, 66, who was found dead at the home on Belmont Street where the siblings had resided together for years.

The charges handed over by the the Grand Jury now include a charge of murder in the first degree, which normally indicates an intent to kill.

On Jan. 29 Duane Rolfe's public defender, Jacki Smith, asked for and was granted a competency hearing for his client, which postponed the probable cause hearing.

Another follow-up hearing had been scheduled in District Court for April 29, but the indictment moves the process forward to Superior Court, said Hinckley.

No details surrounding the case have been released, including what the murder weapon was, or what caused the brother to turn on his sister.

For many years the Rolfes together also owned and operated the family business, McDonald's Kitchenware, a small shop at 7 Factory St. that remains closed and seemingly untouched since the last time the pair closed shop together.