AG's office says no charges will be filed in fatal Jaffrey stabbing

Mia Summerson, The Keene Sentinel, N.H.
·3 min read

Mar. 7—The N.H. Attorney General's office will not bring charges against a Jaffrey man who admitting to stabbing 23-year-old Jake Seaburg in December.

Reilly Lawn, 23, said he accidentally stabbed Seaburg, of Massachusetts, during an altercation in the early morning hours of Dec. 12, according to a report issued by the AG's office Sunday afternoon. The report says there was not sufficient evidence to disprove that the stabbing was an accident.

"The Attorney General's Office has determined that the State would be unable to disprove the claimed defense of accident beyond a reasonable doubt," the report concluded. "Because such a claim would defeat any charges brought by the State, no homicide charges will be brought against Lawn in connection with the stabbing death of Jake Seaburg."

Seaburg, who spent part of his childhood in Jaffrey, died shortly after police arrived early on the morning of Dec. 12, 2020, of two stab wounds to the chest, according to the report. The incident occurred in the Jaffrey apartment Lawn shared with two roommates, who were both friends of Seaburg's.

According to a summary of facts in the AG's report, everyone in the apartment had been drinking during the night and had been hanging out for about an hour. The incident was preceded by a verbal argument between Lawn and Seaburg that quickly escalated, to the surprise of the three witnesses there, and Seaburg "initiated the physical confrontation," according to the report. Lawn had grabbed a knife as Seaburg approached him, the report says.

Seaburg punched Lawn, causing him to fall to the ground, with Seaburg falling on top of him, the report says. Lawn told investigators he believed Seaburg was stabbed "accidentally" when Seaburg landed atop him, and that he stabbed Seaburg in self-defense when Seaburg was on him and punching him. After Seaburg was pulled off Lawn, Lawn called 911, the report says.

Though the AG's office said evidence supported Lawn's claim of an accident, it concluded he was not legally justified to use deadly force under state self-defense laws. The report says Lawn never believed Seaburg to be armed and stabbed him "not to stop what he believed to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force by Mr. Seaburg, but rather to stop Mr. Seaburg's physical beating."

Seaburg's sister, Nicole Letourneau, said her family was shocked to learn that no charges would be brought against Lawn. She said she believes her brother was defending himself, rather than the other way around, and she'd hoped the Attorney General's Office would make an arrest and provide the family with some closure.

"We want to see justice," she told The Sentinel Sunday afternoon. "I think this is absolutely insane, that someone can stab someone twice, resulting in death, and just walk away. And just call it an accident."

She said her family plans to pursue any legal avenues open to them. She called the Attorney General's decision "unfair" and said Lawn will have to live with his actions "for the rest of his life."

Lawn could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

The report can be found at www.doj.nh.gov/news/2021/documents/20210307-seaburg-report.pdf

Mia Summerson can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1435, or msummerson@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @MiaSummerson

Recommended Stories

  • U.S. says Russian-backed outlets spread COVID-19 vaccine 'disinformation'

    The United States has identified three online publications directed by Russia's intelligence services that it says are seeking to undermine COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, a State Department spokeswoman said on Sunday. The outlets "spread many types of disinformation, including about both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as well as international organizations, military conflicts, protests, and any divisive issue that they can exploit," the spokeswoman said. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) first reported on the identification of the alleged campaign on Sunday.

  • Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin awaiting trial

    Charged with second degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd last summer, security measures are being taken in anticipation for jury selection which begins Monday.

  • Shares, dollar cheer U.S. stimulus, bonds downcast

    Asian shares rallied on Monday while the dollar held near three-month peaks after the U.S. Senate passage of a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill augured well for a global economic rebound, though it also put fresh pressure on Treasuries. BofA analyst Athanasios Vamvakidis argued the potent mix of U.S. stimulus, faster reopening and greater consumer firepower was a clear positive for the dollar. "Including the current proposed stimulus package and further upside from a second-half infrastructure bill, total U.S. fiscal support is six times greater than the EU recovery fund," he said.

  • Binge This!: The new movies and podcasts you need to check out this weekend

    Jacqueline Coley, Rotten Tomatoes editor and co-host of the "Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong" podcast recommends watching "Coming 2 America," as well as a new podcast about Lady Bird Johnson.

  • Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

    A COVID-19 relief bill is one step closer to President Biden's signature. New York Gov. Cuomo refuses to step down. It's the weekend's biggest news.

  • Moderna reaches supply deal with Philippines for 13 million vaccine doses

    Moderna said it expected to reach a separate deal with the Philippines government and private sector to supply an additional 7 million doses. The deal will boost the supply of COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines, which on March 1 began its campaign to inoculate 70 million of its 108 million people to achieve herd immunity and reopen an economy that in 2020 saw its worst contraction on record. The Philippines, which is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, reported 3,276 confirmed cases on Sunday, the third straight day that the daily figure has remained above 3,000 or levels last seen in October.

  • USS Nimitz completes a 99,000-mile journey likely not done since WWII

    Most of its 3,000-plus sailors, roughly half of which were serving in their first-ever deployment, boarded the warship April 1, 2020 to quarantine.

  • The Latest: Harry says he was 'trapped' before Meghan

    Prince Harry says he was “trapped” in the royal family before Meghan helped free him. Oprah Winfrey asked Harry in their interview airing Sunday night whether he would have stepped down from his royal duties if he had never met Meghan. Meghan said allegations that the couple’s departure was due to her scheming made no sense.

  • Where do Harry and Meghan live in California?

    The couple has given a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey, filmed at the home of a friend

  • Princess Diana's chief of staff says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal rift echoes the past - and responsibility for reconciliation lies with 'senior palace management'

    Ahead of bombshell Oprah interview, Patrick Jephson told CNN that previous tell-all interviews with the royal family "in all cases" has "backfired."

  • Biden news - Cuomo faces fresh allegations as Obama praises president on Covid-19 relief bill

    Follow the latest in US politics

  • Gary Sánchez impressing Yankees after miserable 2020

    Gary Sánchez has impressed the New York Yankees early on at spring training as the catcher strives to rebound from a disastrous 2020 season. Sánchez poked an opposite-field single to right in the second inning against Zack Wheeler and scored on Brett Gardner’s grand slam as the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 on Sunday. “I think overall just a much more confident version of the Gary Sánchez that we saw in 2020,” Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson said.

  • French billionaire politician killed in helicopter crash

    Olivier Dassault was killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash, a police source said, with President Emmanuel Macron paying tribute to the 69-year old conservative politician.

  • NASCAR live updates: Kyle Larson wins Las Vegas race, his first victory since 2019

    The NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway today and Kevin Harvick is starting on the pole. Lap-by-lap highlights and results here.

  • 10 of our favorite beaches from all across Florida: Daytona, Delray, St. Pete, Siesta, more

    It's always beach season in Florida! Here's a look at 10 of our favorite to be when the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Police officer accused of killing George Floyd faces extra charge, with trial set to begin Monday

    The trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of killing George Floyd in Minneapolis last year, is set to begin on Monday despite a late court ruling which added another charge to the indictment. On Friday the Minnesota Appeals Court decreed that the jury must also consider whether Chauvin should be convicted of third-degree murder, which carries a maximum 25-year jail term. Chauvin was initially charged with third-degree murder, but following a public outcry, prosecutors substituted the more serious offence of second-degree murder, which carries a 40-year maximum jail term, and second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors' decision to reinstate the third-degree murder charge was to ensure jurors had "every option" to hold Chauvin liable for Mr Floyd's death, said Ben Crump, a civil rights lawyer who has been advising Mr Floyd's family, Chauvin is one of four officers facing trial in connection with Mr Floyd's death. Three others are accused of aiding and abetting Chauvin.

  • Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin suggests U.S. could again carry out retaliatory strike after Iraqi base attack

    Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told ABC News' Martha Raddatz on Sunday that the United States still doesn't have a clear assessment of who may have been behind a rocket attack against Iraq's Ain al-Asad base, which is used by U.S.-led coalition troops, earlier this week. And while Washington intends to make sure they get a firm answer, Austin said "you can expect that the U.S. will always hold people accountable for their acts ... we'll strike, if that's what we think we need to do, at a time and place of our own choosing." Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin tells @martharaddatz the U.S. is "still developing the intelligence" on the recent rocket attack against U.S. forces at Ain al-Asad airbase: "But you can expect that we will always hold people accountable for their acts." https://t.co/UmRcsW7jmz pic.twitter.com/jVKkXTEKi4 — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 7, 2021 President Biden previously signed off on airstrikes in retaliation for a similar attack carried out by Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria, a decision that prompted some criticism from congressional Democrats who felt the administration didn't adequately brief lawmakers before moving forward. Austin's comments, however, suggest that such a move could again be in Biden's playbook depending on the outcome of intelligence findings. More stories from theweek.comRead the words that will appear on the exterior of Obama's presidential library in Chicago7 spondiferously funny cartoons about the Dr. Seuss controversyWhy the Dr. Seuss 'cancellation' is chilling

  • COVID-19 fueled a domestic violence crisis. Now, the stimulus bill could help women and children leave abusers

    Against a backdrop of increasing domestic violence amid COVID-19, survivors risk being trapped in a cycle of abuse.

  • Poll: Scots do not think Nicola Sturgeon has been totally honest about Alex Salmond scandal

    Scottish voters do not think Nicola Sturgeon has been honest in the Alex Salmond scandal and she must resign if an independent inquiry finds she broke the ministerial code, according to a poll. The Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times found a third of people already think she should quit, but this proportion would surge to 61 per cent if she is found to have broken the code. Ms Sturgeon last week refused to provide any guarantee she would quit, instead telling MSPs "we can debate in this chamber" what her punishment should be. However, only 24 per cent said they would support her staying on. The poll also found only one in three Scots believe she has been entirely honest and recorded a three-point swing from Yes (46 per cent) to No (47 per cent) on independence. Support for independence in Holyrood's constituency vote declined five points since January, although Ms Sturgeon is still just on course to win a majority in May, with 65 seats out of 129. A second, unweighted poll for Scotland on Sunday also indicated that support for separation and public trust in Ms Sturgeon has dropped significantly this year.

  • People threaten to call ICE on Texas Mexican restaurant that kept mask rule, it says

    “It’s just heartbreaking.”