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Home » News » Crime

July 08. 2012 12:06AM

Toes remain a mystery, while a mother grieves

EPPING — As authorities try to determine if convicted murderer Sheila LaBarre killed a third man six years ago, the mother of one of her two known victims plans to celebrate his birthday soon.

Time will never ease the pain for Carolynn Lodge.

“I don't think I'll ever come to terms with this,” Lodge said Friday as she prepares to travel to Epping on July 18 to celebrate what would have been her son's 31st birthday.

Kenneth Countie, 24, was murdered by LaBarre, 54, and his body burned at her Epping farmhouse in March 2006.

Six years have passed since Countie's gruesome killing and the murder of another man, Michael Deloge, but the slayings are still fresh for Lodge, who visits a roadside memorial every year on her son's birthday.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young said Friday there was little response to a New Hampshire Union Leader article Wednesday about human toes that were found near LaBarre's farm — but never identified — except from other media outlets.

The toes from a man were found near LaBarre's farm at about the time she was arrested.

Young said last week more testing would be done if anyone comes forward with DNA from someone missing since then who may have had a connection to LaBarre.

Lodge wants people to remember her son.

“My son was a lovely lad. He didn't deserve this and neither did Michael. People need to realize it was somebody's child,” Lodge said.

Lodge always brings a birthday cake to the memorial along Red Oak Hill Lane leading to the old farmhouse where LaBarre lived before she was arrested and later convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

“I sing 'Happy Birthday' to him and make a wish. I wish that eventually total justice will be served,” Lodge said.

Countie's birthday isn't the only time of year she makes the trip from her home in Massachusetts.

Lodge said she stops by at least a couple of times a month.

“Each time, I bring a little something, like an angel. I keep it as pristine as I can,” she said.

Lodge used to spend half a day visiting the memorial when it was first created after the murder.

“In the beginning, it was every day for hours and hours, and then it started eating at me because then you start thinking,” Lodge said.

Adding to the pain of losing her son is that she never had a body to bury.

“When you aren't given a body to bury, you still expect him to walk through the door with a big smile. I still see his face. That will never leave me,” she said.

Lodge insisted that she'll never stop visiting her son's memorial at the farm where he died.

“The only time I wouldn't do it is if I were dead,” she said.

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Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.

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