As documents remain sealed, details about murder, suspect's past remain murky

From left, Tim Verrill in police mug shot after arrest and as a junior at Dover High in 2000, when he would've been 18.

DOVER - Just as the documents in a local murder case involving the fatal stabbings of two women in Farmington in January remain sealed, information about their accused murderer remains just as elusive.

Tim Verrill, 34, of 38 Cushing St., Dover, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Christine Sullivan, 48, who split her time between southwest Florida and Farmington; and Jenna Pellegrini, 32, of Barrington.

Their bodies were discovered around 3 a.m. on Jan. 29 when Farmington Police responded to a 911 call at 979 Meaderboro Road, however court documents allege the crime occurred on Jan. 27, a Friday.

Verrill, who remains jailed on no bail at Strafford County Jail, lists Dover as his hometown and Dover High School as his alma mater.

Dover Schools Superintendent Elaine M. Arbour said last week she could not comment on Verrill, but Dover High's 2000 yearbook lists him as a junior.

The 2001 yearbook, however, makes no mention of him, so it's not clear whether he dropped out for some reason or finished high school in another town.

Among listings of high school clubs, groups or sports, no mention of Verrill can be found.

His Facebook Page lists employment at Funky Rock Designs, but Funky Rock Designs in Eliot, Maine, said he hadn't worked there in about two years.

Dean Smoronk, the owner of the property where the victims were found and a longtime boyfriend of Sullivan, told the Union Leader in a Facebook messenger interview two weeks ago that he and Sullivan were both longtime friends with Verrill and that they had even let him stay at their Farmington home when he lost his job.

"Yes, I knew him. For over 13 years I thought I knew him and also trusted him. I noticed a change in him the last few months which became more pronounced in the last few weeks," Smoronk told the Union Leader. "He just seemed not all there. His personality was changing. It seemed as though his normal aptitude was gone and he was more weird and didn't make as much sense."

In Sumter County, S.C., where Smoronk faces several charges in connection with a 2014 drug arrest, Assistant Prosecutor Scott Matthews said the most serious charges - trafficking of meth - could land Smoronk in prison for up to 10 years.

Matthews confirmed he had been in touch with New Hampshire police regarding the deaths of Sullivan and Pelligrini but made no further comment on the case.

He said he's hopeful that Smoronk's trial in South Carolina can take place this year. Sumter County officials refused comment on any bail arrangements Smoronk may have.

Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Geoffrey Ward told The Lebanon Voice earlier this week that multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the ongoing investigation into the case, but would not identify those agencies.

Both women died of multiple stab wounds, according to a coroner's report, with Sullivan also sustaining at least one blunt force trauma to the head.

Smoronk told police he found the bodies after returning home late Jan. 28 on a flight from Florida, where he and Sullivan also spent time.

Verrill, who is listed as 6-2 and 280 pounds, was arrested and charged as a fugitive from justice just before 9 p.m. on Feb. 6 on Methuen Street in Lawrence where he was seeking treatment at a medical facility, according to Lawrence Police. He was returned to New Hampshire the next day and waived his arraignment later in the week.

Arrest papers and requests for court-appointed public defender show Verrill with no job, no income and a student loan with no amount owed.

He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

His public defender did not return a phone call for this report.

Ward has said the state has two months to indict Verrill on the charges, but declined further comment on any timetable.