By Angeljean Chiaramida
SEABROOK — Seabrook police confirmed yesterday they believe the July 5, 2000, disappearance of Venture Co. security guard Curt Pishon was due to "foul play," and that Pishon was most likely killed.
According to Seabrook Detective Sgt. Michael Gallagher, leads coming into the department point to "persons of interest" he believes killed the 41-year-old man after he stumbled across criminal activity during his shift at Venture in the early morning hours on that day.
"We have information in the form of anonymous tips," Gallagher said. "We've gotten enough information to piece together what we think happened that night. Now we need people with direct information to come forward with a statement that can give us probable cause to get the dangerous people responsible for Curt's death off the streets of Seabrook."
Gallagher said three suspicious incidents took place at Venture on the morning Pishon disappeared, which he believes were related to Pishon's disappearance. First, Gallagher said, Pishon's car was set on fire, then there was an attempt to break in and steal the money in vending machines at the plant, and finally, the padlocked door of a union office was kicked in.
Seabrook detectives will be re-interviewing everyone who was at Venture Co. during Pishon's last shift, Gallagher said.
"Not all employees who were working at Venture that night have been ruled out as suspects," he said.
Gallagher said rumors Pishon's car was set ablaze by employees at Venture who hated him have been ruled out. Those rumors and another, saying Pishon set his car on fire himself for the insurance money, may have been spread as red herrings by those who may be criminally involved in the case, to lead police in wrong directions.
"Pishon wasn't hated," Gallagher said. "That isn't the reason we think his car was torched. His diploma from the Police Academy was in the trunk of his car. He wouldn't have burned that."
Also ruled out, Gallagher said, is the idea that Pishon — a 10-year veteran of the Concord Police Department — fell into a retention pond on the Venture site because he suffered from multiple sclerosis. Although Pishon had some trouble walking, Gallagher said, that theory hasn't held up during the investigation.
Nor, Gallagher said, do police believe Pishon was despondent and killed himself. The lack of a body and suicide note were not present to bear out that theory.
Gallagher thinks Pishon's car may have been torched for a totally different reason. According to what Gallagher has been able to "piece together," during his shift, Pishon's car may have been torched to divert attention from a planned crime. However, Gallagher said, he believes Pishon "stumbled upon" that crime while it was taking place, and was killed by those he caught in the act.
After killing Pishon — either accidentally or purposely — Gallagher believes those involved removed his body from Venture and buried it in a rural area somewhere east of Concord, N.H.
"The people responsible for this crime are still in this community, and they are still a danger to those who live in this town," Gallagher said. "Those with evidence need to come forward. It's their moral duty. (The Pishon) family needs to be able to bury their loved one."
In the past month, Pishon's family began a renewed campaign to "find Curt," hoping people with evidence will come forward. Information can be offered at www.findcurt.com, Gallagher said.
"Police are not monitoring the information left on the site the family has created to find Curt and bring him home," Gallagher said. "Or, people can call the Seabrook Police Department at 603-474-5200 or use our anonymous Crime Line at 603-474-2640."
There is a $6,000 reward that will go to the person or persons who come forward with information that leads to the conviction of the people who are responsible for the disappearance of Curt Pishon.
