Stacey Burns

A woman is found stabbed to death in her home
Stacey Burns was a beloved figure in the close-knit lakeside town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, known for her warmth and an open-door policy at her home. A 41-year-old White woman, Stacey was a devoted mother to five children and worked as a school nurse at Carpenter Elementary School. Friends remembered her as happy, fun, and someone who made everyone feel like her best friend. Her home on North Main Street was a welcoming hub for friends and her children's friends alike, a place always filled with life and laughter. She was a dedicated hockey mom and an integral part of her community, which made her sudden and violent death all the more shocking.

The morning of Mother’s Day, May 10, 2009, began with a horrific discovery that shattered the town's tranquility. When Stacey did not come downstairs, her 15-year-old son, Michael, went to her bedroom to wake her, planning to bring her breakfast in bed. [Source Text] Instead, he found his mother brutally stabbed to death. An autopsy would later confirm she died from multiple stab wounds. In a chilling detail, two of Stacey's children and several of their friends had been asleep in nearby rooms during the night, but none of them heard any struggle or cry for help. Michael later recalled the traumatic image, telling a reporter, "It was really tough getting that image out of my head. It's still there."

The investigation was immediately launched by the New Hampshire State Police and the Attorney General's Office. [Source Text] Investigators have dedicated thousands of hours to the case, conducting numerous interviews and pursuing every lead, but the crime remains unsolved. The murder of a popular mother in her own home on a day meant for celebration sent a wave of fear and grief through Wolfeboro. In the years since, authorities have periodically renewed their calls for public assistance, hoping that a crucial piece of information might finally provide a breakthrough for a family still waiting for answers.

Scrutiny in the investigation has publicly focused on two men in Stacey's life. Her ex-husband, Ed Burns, was a central figure from the beginning. Their divorce had been finalized in December 2008 after a contentious separation. Court records showed that Stacey had previously obtained a restraining order against him, citing abuse and alleging he once told her, "Death Before Divorce." The two were scheduled to be in court to discuss child support issues on the Monday after she was killed. Ed Burns, however, maintained he was at a party in Boston on the night of the murder and reportedly had video to support his alibi. Though law enforcement has never officially named him a suspect, he remained a person of interest.

In July 2018, Ed Burns was arrested in Millis, Massachusetts, and charged with stabbing a man in the back with a 10-inch kitchen knife during an argument. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following this arrest, Stacey's sister was granted a restraining order against him, and she and her husband gained custody of the five Burns children. While authorities have not connected this incident to Stacey's murder, the parallel nature of the alleged crime drew renewed public attention to him.

Another man who came under scrutiny was Jim Vittum, whom Stacey had been dating after her divorce. Vittum voluntarily spoke to investigators on the day Stacey’s body was discovered. He admitted that he had confronted her the day before her death about seeing another man and reportedly did not perform well on a polygraph test administered by police. Vittum has publicly and consistently denied any involvement in the murder, instead pointing suspicion at Ed Burns. Despite the public interest and police questioning, Jim Vittum has never been arrested or charged in connection with Stacey Burns's death.

Stacey's family and friends continue to mourn her loss and fight for justice. A memorial 5K run has been held to honor her memory, with proceeds funding a scholarship in her name for high school seniors planning to study nursing. [Source Text] Her children have grown up without their mother, shadowed by the unanswered questions surrounding her murder. In a statement released in May 2025, her family expressed their ongoing pain: “We are disappointed that this marks another year that our mother was tragically taken from us, with no clear progress in her case. We will continue to hope for the justice she deserves.”

As of May 2025, the murder of Stacey Burns remains an open and active investigation, now handled by the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit. Attorney General John Formella stated, “We have not forgotten Stacey, and we will not stop until justice is served—for her, her children, and the community that continues to grieve her loss. Even after all these years, one tip could make the difference.” Authorities urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at (800) 525-5555 or by email at [email protected].