Episode 57: The Murders of Laura Kempton and Tammy Little
Laura’s apartment
Tammy’s apartment
Although they are regarded as two separate murder cases, the murders of Laura Kempton and Tammy Little have shocking similarities that have authorities convinced they are connected.
On Monday, September 28th, 1981 at about 9:30am, 23-year-old Laura Kempton’s body was found in her apartment at 20 Chapel Street in the downtown area of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She had massive head injuries from blunt force trauma. Laura was last seen leaving the Ranger Club that same morning in the early hours. She was an aspiring model and a student at the Portsmouth Beauty School.
Less than one year later on Tuesday, October 19th, 1982, 20-year-old Tammy Little was found murdered in her apartment near the downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire area at 315 Maplewood Avenue. She had died of blunt force trauma to the head, and was last seen coming home after a night out in Boston in the early hours several days prior. Tammy was also a student at the Portsmouth Beauty School, as well as an aspiring model.
Both girls lived alone in apartments on the ground floor, both were students at the beauty school and both lived in the downtown Portsmouth area. They also both frequented the Ranger Club and were known as friendly, kind and outgoing.
On July 20th, 2023, investigators held a press conference and announced that through DNA testing, they had identified the killer of Laura Kempton. 21-year-old Ronney J. Lee was responsible for Laura’s murder. He died in 2005.
Police are still actively investigating Tammy Little’s murder and have given little information regarding the connections between the two cases.
Anyone with any information about the murder of Tammy Little is asked to call Seacoast Crime Stoppers at (603) 431-1199. You can also text CRIMES (274637) and include TIPSCS in the message.
Image sources:
cityofportsmouth.com - “Tammy Little October 1982” and “Laura Kempton September 1981”