On the morning of September 28, 1990, a fire on School Street in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, claimed the life of 72-year-old John Sterling. Firefighters found Sterling deceased inside his single-family home after a blaze that was first reported around 1:00 a.m. Investigators later concluded the fire had been set intentionally, and Sterling’s death was treated as an arson homicide.

The incident occurred amid a string of deliberately set fires troubling the Hillsborough area at that time, heightening local fear. Despite investigative efforts, no arrests were ever announced and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains open on the New Hampshire Department of Justice list of unsolved homicides.

If anyone knew John Sterling or has information about fires in Hillsborough from that period, please come forward with what you know.