A juvenile has been arrested in connection with the death of an Antrim man.
Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Christopher J. Wagner and Antrim Police Chief Scott R. Lester announced the arrest in a press release shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday.
News of the arrest comes about 12 hours after firefighters responded to a Gregg Lake Road home in Antrim for a report of a house fire with an occupant still inside.
“Jason Beam, age 41, was found deceased in the home. An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Mr. Beam’s death is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2019,” the afternoon press release said. “A juvenile has been arrested in connection with the death of Jason Beam. Because the alleged perpetrator in this case is a juvenile, no other details will be available at this time.”
MacDonald and Lester announced on Friday morning that state officials were responding to Antrim to investigate a suspicious death.
“The incident appears to be self-contained and there does not appear to be any threat of danger to the public,” the Attorney General’s office said in the Friday morning press release. “Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Antrim Fire Chief Marshall Gale said on Friday that firefighters had responded to the Gregg Lake Road home at about 2:51 a.m. on Friday for a reported fire with a subject still within the home.
A woman and child were outside of the home when firefighters arrived, he said.
“They met us upon our arrival,” Gale said, and told firefighters where to find the man inside the home.
Upon entry firefighters found smoke and a room and its contents on fire, Gale said. The man was found inside the house, deceased with obvious trauma to his body, he said.
The cause of the fire and the death are being investigated by the AG and Fire Marshal’s offices and state police, Gale said.
Investigators are asking anyone who believes they may have information about the incident to call New Hampshire State Police Sergeant William Bright at (603) 628-8477.