10/19/2026
NEWS RELEASE
Released by: John M. Formella, Attorney General
Subject: Cold Case Unit Releases Previously Unseen Photo, Renews Call for Information in 1982 Murder of Tammy Little
Date: October 19, 2026
Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
[email protected] | (603) 931-9375
R. Christopher Knowles, Senior Assistant Attorney General
Chief, New Hampshire Cold Case Unit
[email protected] | (603) 271-3671
Rachel C. Harrington, Assistant Attorney General
New Hampshire Cold Case Unit
[email protected] | (603) 271-3671
Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella and Portsmouth Police Chief Mark D. Newport announce, on behalf of the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, a renewed appeal for public assistance in the 1982 cold case homicide of 20-year-old Tammy Little. On the 44th anniversary of this tragic crime, the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is renewing its request for public assistance in the unsolved murder.
In an effort to generate new leads, the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is releasing a previously unreleased photograph of Ms. Little. Investigators hope the image might spark memories for individuals who lived, worked, or attended school in the Portsmouth area at the time of her death.
Tammy Little was a 20-year-old student attending the Portsmouth Beauty School. She was last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 16, 1982. Three days later, on Tuesday, October 19, 1982, Ms. Little was found murdered inside her apartment located at 315 Maplewood Avenue in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. An autopsy conducted by the New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner determined that she died as a result of massive head injuries.
Tammy’s family continues to honor her memory and seek justice for her. In a statement, her family shared: “…Tammy was the most joyful person. She was everyone’s friend. If you were hurting or needed someone to talk to, she would be there and know what to say. She was the one you called to lift you up, and she was the one to share your happiness with. Her light was so bright. Today, her light lives on with me; she is my guardian angel and lives within my heart. There is not a day that I do not think about her and the more days we could have had together.”
The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, in close coordination with detectives from the Portsmouth Police Department, is actively investigating this case. Investigators continue to review case files, evaluate physical evidence for modern forensic testing, and pursue all available leads.
“Tammy was a young woman with a bright future ahead of her, and her life was taken in a brutal and senseless act of violence,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, Chief of the Cold Case Unit. “Our unit, alongside the Portsmouth Police Department, remains steadfast in our commitment to finding answers for Tammy and her loved ones. We are releasing these new photographs today with the hope that someone who knew her, perhaps a former classmate at the Portsmouth Beauty School or a resident of the Maplewood Avenue neighborhood, will remember a detail they have not previously shared. No matter how much time has passed, we believe there are people who hold information critical to solving this case.”
Investigators believe that members of the public may hold the missing piece of information needed to bring Tammy’s killer to justice. Authorities are specifically interested in hearing from:
• Classmates and Peers: Anyone who attended the Portsmouth Beauty School with Tammy in 1982.
• Former Neighbors and Residents: Individuals who lived in or around 315 Maplewood Avenue, or who frequented the area in October 1982.
• Timeline Witnesses: Anyone who may have seen or spoken to Tammy between the early morning hours of October 16, 1982, and the discovery of her body on October 19, 1982.
Provide a Tip
No detail is too small to be relevant. Anyone with information regarding the murder of Tammy Little is urged to contact authorities:
• Cold Case Unit Tip Line: (603) 271-2663
• Email: [email protected]
• Submit a tip at www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/cold-case
• Victim Page: www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/cold-case-unit/victim-list/tammy-little
Attached to this release is a previously unreleased photograph of Tammy Little.
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