Jeremiah Willey Death: Body of Hooksett Man, 25, Recovered from Merrimack River After Accidental Fall from Railroad Bridge; Investigation Led by Trooper Christopher Prenaveau.

HOOKSETT, N.H. – April 12, 2026 – A massive, multi-agency search along the Merrimack River reached a devastating conclusion early Sunday morning when divers recovered the body of 25-year-old Jeremiah Willey, a young man whose accidental fall from a railroad bridge has plunged the close-knit communities of Allenstown and Hooksett into deep mourning.

The recovery, which took place just after 9:15 a.m. on April 12, 2026, ended more than 15 hours of uncertainty for Willey’s family and friends, who had gathered at riverbanks and bridge overlooks since the previous evening, holding vigil and hoping for a miracle that was not to come.

According to a detailed statement released by the New Hampshire State Police, the initial emergency call came in around dusk on Saturday, April 11. A witness, whose identity has not been released due to the ongoing investigation but who is described as a bystander near Riverside Street in Hooksett, reported seeing a young man on the railroad bridge that spans a deep and fast-moving section of the Merrimack. The witness told dispatchers that the man appeared to lose his footing suddenly. Within seconds, he had plunged into the cold, dark water.

The witness bravely attempted to track Willey’s position from the shore, shouting and pointing. They reported seeing him surface briefly, his arms flailing as he struggled against the strong April current. The water temperature at this time of year in New Hampshire typically hovers between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (4-7 degrees Celsius), a level that induces rapid hypothermia and muscle failure within minutes. The witness watched in horror as Willey’s efforts grew weaker, and then, without a sound, he slipped beneath the surface and did not reappear.

The Desperate Search: Suspended by Darkness, Renewed at Dawn

The initial response was immediate and robust. Hooksett police and fire crews were first on the scene within minutes, establishing a command post near the Riverside Street access point. They quickly confirmed the witness’s account and began a shoreline search as darkness rapidly descended. However, the treacherous conditions—near-zero visibility in the murky water, the river’s unpredictable undercurrents, and the inherent dangers of operating dive equipment at night—forced Incident Commanders to make the difficult decision to suspend active underwater recovery efforts until first light.

“The safety of our first responders is paramount,” a State Police spokesperson explained in a preliminary briefing on Saturday night. “Searching that stretch of the Merrimack in total darkness is not only ineffective but extremely dangerous. We will resume at full strength at 8:00 a.m. with additional assets.”

True to their word, as the sun rose over the Merrimack Valley on Sunday morning, a formidable fleet of rescue and recovery vehicles converged on the area. At precisely 8:00 a.m., the search resumed. The operation was a textbook example of interagency coordination. The New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol deployed two vessels equipped with side-scan sonar—a sophisticated technology that sends sound waves to the riverbed to create images of objects on the bottom, even in zero-visibility water. Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team, renowned for their expertise in cold-water and low-visibility recoveries across the state’s rugged terrain, suited up and prepared for entry.

For 75 agonizing minutes, the sonar operators scanned a grid pattern around the railroad bridge, focusing on areas where the current would likely have carried a submerged body: deep pools, eddies behind bridge pilings, and underwater ledges. Just after 9:15 a.m., the sonar detected a target of interest approximately 40 yards downstream from the bridge, in a section of river nearly 18 feet deep.

Divers from the Fish and Game team were immediately directed to the coordinates. In a swift, professional operation, they located Jeremiah Willey’s body and brought him to the surface. He was transported by a Marine Patrol vessel to a waiting ambulance at a nearby boat launch, where he was pronounced dead. His body was then taken to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy, though authorities have already stated that his death is not considered suspicious and is consistent with an accidental drowning.

The Victim: Remembering Jeremiah Willey

As the official confirmation spread through text messages, social media, and local news alerts, the initial shock gave way to an overwhelming wave of grief. Jeremiah Willey was more than a name in a police report. To those who knew him, he was a young man full of potential, known for his quiet strength, his loyalty to friends, and his deep connection to the outdoors.

Born and raised in Allenstown, a small town adjacent to Hooksett, Jeremiah was a 2019 graduate of Pembroke Academy, where teachers remember him as a solid, reliable student who was never afraid to lend a hand. After high school, he worked several trades, most recently as an apprentice with a local construction company, where he was learning to operate heavy machinery—a job he loved for its physicality and for the camaraderie of the worksite.

“He was just a good kid. A really good kid,” said his aunt, Patricia Willey, speaking through tears outside the family’s home on Sunday afternoon. “He had that laugh—the kind that made everyone around him smile. He loved fishing on this river, ironically. He knew its dangers better than most. That’s what makes this so hard to understand. It was just a terrible, terrible accident.”

Friends describe Jeremiah as someone who lived in the moment. He was an avid skateboarder in his younger years and had recently taken up hiking, with a goal of summiting all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot mountains. He had completed 12. His social media accounts, now transformed into digital memorials, are filled with photos of sunsets over lakes, his dog (a rescued lab-mix named “Rigby”), and candid, goofy shots with his small but tight circle of friends.

“He would give you the shirt off his back,” said long-time friend Michael Dufresne. “I’ve known Jerry since we were six years old. We built forts in the woods, got into trouble, and grew up together. I can’t believe I’m saying ‘grew up’ in the past tense. This isn’t real. I keep expecting him to walk through my door with a six-pack and a stupid joke.”

The railroad bridge from which Willey fell is a local landmark—a steel truss structure that carries freight traffic over the Merrimack. While it is not intended for pedestrian use, locals have long known that it is accessible, and it has become an unofficial, albeit dangerous, lookout point. It is unclear why Willey was on the bridge on Saturday evening. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that he may have been taking a shortcut, fishing from an elevated spot, or simply enjoying the view. Toxicology results are pending as part of the standard investigation, but authorities have stated there is no immediate evidence of foul play or intoxication.

The Investigation and Official Statements

Leading the ongoing investigation is Trooper First Class Christopher Prenaveau of the New Hampshire State Police. In a brief press conference following the recovery, Trooper Prenaveau thanked the multiple agencies involved and extended condolences to the Willey family.

“This is a heartbreaking outcome for everyone involved,” said Trooper First Class Prenaveau. “Our thoughts are with Mr. Willey’s family, friends, and all who loved him. While the initial evidence strongly suggests this was a tragic accident, we will continue to conduct a thorough investigation. We ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has any information at all, no matter how small it may seem, to please come forward.”

Prenaveau reiterated the official contact line for tips: (603) 223-8620. He noted that investigators are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen Willey in the hours leading up to the fall, or anyone who has previously accessed the railroad bridge in that area.

The response to the incident involved an exhaustive list of resources, underscoring the seriousness with which first responders treat any water rescue. The agencies listed in the official report include:

· New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol: Provided command vessels, sonar equipment, and coordinated water-based search patterns.
· New Hampshire State Police Troopers: Managed ground security, traffic control, and assisted with witness coordination.
· New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team: The primary recovery unit, whose divers performed the underwater search in dangerous, low-visibility conditions.
· Hooksett Police Department: First on the scene and maintained the initial perimeter.
· Hooksett Fire and Rescue: Provided medical standby, shoreline support, and assisted with family notifications.

Community Response and Water Safety Warnings

As news of Jeremiah Willey’s death spread, the communities of Allenstown and Hooksett began organizing informal memorials. By Sunday evening, a small but growing pile of flowers, handwritten notes, and a single lit candle had appeared at the base of the Riverside Street bridge approach. A separate, more formal vigil is being planned by the family for later in the week.

The tragedy has also prompted renewed warnings from safety officials about the dangers of the Merrimack River, particularly in the early spring. The river is currently running higher and swifter than average due to snowmelt from the White Mountains. Officials stress that even strong swimmers can quickly become overwhelmed by cold water shock, which causes an involuntary gasp reflex and can lead to drowning within seconds.

“The water is lethally cold right now,” said a senior officer from the Fish and Game Department who spoke on condition of anonymity. “People don’t realize that in 40-degree water, you lose effective muscle control in under ten minutes. If you go in without a life jacket, especially from a height, the odds are stacked against you. This railroad bridge is not a safe place to be.”

The family has requested privacy as they prepare funeral arrangements. In a brief written statement released through a family spokesperson, they said: “Our hearts are shattered. Jeremiah was our son, our nephew, our cousin, our friend. He was a light. We ask for your prayers, not your questions, at this time. And we ask everyone to hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.”

The investigation remains open. Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact Trooper First Class Christopher Prenaveau directly at (603) 223-8620.

For now, the Merrimack River flows on, indifferent and powerful. But on its banks, and in the small towns that line its course, the memory of Jeremiah Willey—a young man gone far too soon—will linger like the morning mist over the cold, dark water.