In just over a year span during the early 1980s in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the lives of two young women were ended by an assailant who broke into their apartments, violently attacked and beat them, and somehow

managed to escape undetected, remaining anonymous for decades.

Laura Kempton and Tammy Little's murders have long been intertwined.

As you'll hear, the circumstances of their deaths and their lives are just too similar to ignore a possible connection.

But now, in 2023 their cases apparently diverge. The

New Hampshire State's attorney's office announced that they have identified the

person responsible for one of those homicides.

Laura Kempton's killer has finally been named.

In a 25-page report and press conference, the details of the 40-plus year investigation into the murder of 23-year-old

Laura Kempton were revealed. Now the question on everyone's lips. What's next for the case of

20-year-old Tammy Little?

I'm Kylie Lowe and these are the cases of Laura Kempton and Tammy Little on Dark Down East.

23-year-old Laura Kempton was a free spirit.

23-year-old Laura Kempton was a free spirit. She was outgoing and social and had a big personality.

In the fall of 1981, she was studying to be a hairstylist at the Portsmouth Beauty School,

and sources say Laura was also an aspiring model. A Dark Downey's listener wrote to me that although she didn't know Laura personally, she knew

of Laura because she'd posed for a few photo shoots and those photos of Laura were on display at a local salon

In addition to her coursework at the beauty school

Laura worked at the quirky macro polo gift shop in downtown to cover her bills and maybe

give her some walking around money. Laura liked to go out with friends to the local night spots

in Portsmouth and she was on the dating scene too.

On Saturday night, September 26, 1981, Laura Kempton was out for one of her usual

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