Stepfather arrested in death of 11-year-old NH girl

WEST STEWARTSTOWN, N.H. — A New Hampshire man has been arrested in connection with the 2011 death of his 11-year-old stepdaughter.

Wendell Noyes, 52, faces a second degree murder charge for the killing the death of Celina Cass by submerging her body in the Connecticut River.

On July 26, 2011, 11-year-old Celina Cass was reported missing from her West Stewartstown, New Hampshire home.

Six days later on Aug. 1, 2011, Celina's body was recovered from the Connecticut River, near a dam, about
a half mile from her home.

According to court documents, Noyes has a history of psychiatric issues and was found unfit to stand trial in a 2003 case where he was charged with breaking into an ex-girlfriend's home and threatening her.

The investigation into Celina’s murder has remained active for the past five years. In 2013 Noyes was subpoenaed to testify about Celina's case in front of a grand jury. Earlier this year a state police major crimes van was spotted outside his home, but police would not say why they were there.

A warrant for Noyes’s arrest was issued Monday. He will be arraigned Tuesday.

Cox Media Group