Police: Booby traps found around home following explosion

SALEM, N.H. — Police said a man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the house that exploded in Salem, N.H. Monday night.

The person has not yet been identified, but police said it appears he may have been preparing for some kind of confrontation.

Police Captain Joel Dolan said there is “very little fire damage” to the basement of the home where the man's body was found with several guns nearby, including a long rifle, a handgun and numerous rounds of ammunition.

The homeowner, Charles Hill, has been thus far unaccounted for by police, but his car was found in the driveway, according to police.

Neighbors Betinho Moniz said that in 2015 Hill pointed a rifle at his bedroom window and threatened to shoot him. That altercation had caused a lot of sleepless nights since.

“I told them he needed help he didn’t need to go to jail,” Moniz said. “It’s a relief. My kids are going to sleep good I’m going to sleep good.”

>>IMAGES: Fatal house explosion in Salem, NH

Officials said the person found dead in the basement is a white male, but has not yet been identified because the officials have not yet spoken to family.

Police also said they found pieces of wood with nails sticking out along the access path to the house, which prompted officers to search for booby-traps before entering the home. Police said they were able to identify the body through a window in the basement, but were slow to gain entry.

The home was torn down Tuesday night, but investigators are still working to determine what lead up to the explosion.

“He needed some help. This is another case, the poor man was losing his home and doing everything he could to hold onto it. He cracked under the pressure,” neighbor Jim Altott said.

Cox Media Group