10/22/2026
Man Pleads Guilty in Decades-Old Milford Beating Death of His Father
MILFORD, N.H. — More than two decades after a fatal domestic attack, 40-year-old Douglas Herlihy pleaded guilty today in Hillsborough County Superior Court – Southern District to charges stemming from the 2003 beating death of his father.
Herlihy entered guilty pleas to one count of manslaughter and one count of attempted falsification of physical evidence in connection with the death of 50-year-old Paul Herlihy. The homicide occurred in Milford between August 23 and August 24, 2003, when the defendant was 17 years old.
The guilty pleas were entered pursuant to a fully negotiated plea agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, which remains subject to court acceptance, Herlihy faces a stand-committed sentence of 12 to 24 years in the New Hampshire State Prison on the manslaughter charge. He will be eligible for a one-year reduction of his minimum sentence upon successful completion of the prison's Focus program while in custody.
The agreement also includes a three-and-a-half to seven-year sentence for the attempted falsification charge, which will be fully suspended for 20 years. In exchange for the guilty plea, remaining indicted counts—including alternative charges of second-degree murder—will be dismissed.
"This case is a reminder that the pursuit of justice does not end with the passage of time," said Attorney General John M. Formella. "The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing answers and accountability, even decades after a crime. That work takes persistence, patience and a determination to follow the evidence wherever it leads. I commend the investigators and prosecutors whose continued efforts brought this case to an important resolution."
The long-unsolved homicide was investigated through a joint effort by the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, the Milford Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police. Prosecution of the case was led by Assistant Attorney General Rachel C. Harrington and Cold Case Unit Chief R. Christopher Knowles.
A formal sentencing hearing will be scheduled for early 2027.
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Milford Police Department New Hampshire State Police
