The Unsolved Murders of Stella Bolton & James “JJ” Moore
James ‘JJ’ Moore, Stella Bolton
The Murders of Stella Bolton & James "JJ" Moore
On a bitter February night in 1991, the quiet of a Portsmouth neighborhood was shattered when flames erupted from a neighbor’s home. By the time the fire was under control, two beloved members of the community were dead.
Stella Bolton, 68, and James "JJ" Moore, 73, were familiar and well-loved faces around the Seacoast area. They were longtime friends who shared a simple, quiet life.
But investigators soon discovered that the fire was only part of the story.
Stella and JJ had been killed before the flames consumed their home. What initially appeared to be a devastating house fire was now a double homicide—and someone had gone to extraordinary lengths to hide what they had done.
As investigators began piecing together those final hours, questions piled up. Who would want Stella and JJ dead? Why were they targeted? And could the person responsible have been someone they knew?
But Portsmouth detectives have never given up hope. They believe the answers may still be out there, held by someone who remembers what happened-and they remain determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to Stella and JJ.
Seacoast Crime Stoppers is offering at $20,000.00 reward for any information about this case that leads to an indictment or an arrest. If you have any information, please contact Detective Rochelle Jones (603) 610-7503 or Seacoast Crimestoppers at (603) 431-1199 to remain anonymous.
You can also submit a tip to Seacoast Crimestoppers online.
Continue Stella and JJ’s story: Listen to the podcast episode. This text has been adapted from the Murder, She Told podcast episode, The Unsolved Murders of Stella Bolton & James “JJ” Moore. To hear Stella and JJ’s full story, find Murder, She Told on your favorite podcast platform or listen on the player at the top of the page.
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James ‘JJ’ Moore (facebook.com)
James ‘JJ’ Moore (seacoastonline.com)
Stella Bolton, James ‘JJ’ Moore (seacoastonline.com)
Stella Bolton (Instagram, Portsmouth PD)
Stella Bolton (seacoastonline.com)
Mariner's Village plan (seacoastonline.com)
74 Rockhill Ave, crime scene (NH Cold Case Unit)
74 Rockhill Ave, crime scene (facebook.com)
74 Rockhill Ave, crime scene
Funeral for JJ Moore and Stella Bolton (Nashua Telegraph)
Funeral for JJ Moore and Stella Bolton (Portsmouth Herald)
Memorial note from neighbors
William Schroeder (Portsmouth Herald)
Det. Rochelle Jones, Portsmouth PD (seacoastonline.com)
Det. Rochelle Jones, Portsmouth PD (seacoastonline.com)
Det. Rochelle Jones, Portsmouth PD (seacoastonline.com)
Gravestone of James ‘JJ’ Moore and Stella Bolton (seacoastonline.com)
Sources For This Episode
Newspaper articles
Various articles from Concord Monitor, Foster's Daily Democrat, Nashua Telegraph, New Hampshire Union Leader, Portsmouth Herald, and Valley News, here.
Written by various authors including Annmarie Timmins, Beth LaMontagne, Christopher Comfort, Cissy Taylor, Elizabeth Dinan, Erika L. Mantz, James Baker, Jane Andrews, Jerry Miller, Jody Record, John Breneman, John Hart, Larissa Pawula, Larry Favinger, Lori Ayotte, and Mike Recht.
Online written sources
'North End contains a rich history' (Seacoast Online), 3/14/2002, by Laura Pope
'State opening the books on murder cases gone cold' (Foster's Daily Democrat), 7/29/2009, by Adam D. Krauss
'JJ Moore and Stella Bolton Facebook Page' (Facebook), 2/18/2011
'Old murder story unfairly labeled city neighborhood' (Seacoast Online), 3/2/2011
'Portsmouth Police Getting Closer to Solving Cold Cases' (Patch), 7/5/2011, by Robert Cook
'9's Unsolved: James Moore and Stella Bolton' (WMUR), 1/31/2018, by Christine DeLong Wheeler
'A huge deal': Detective Rochelle Jones calls 1991 Portsmouth double murder...' (Seacoast Online), 11/23/2021, by Ian Lenahan
'(no title)' (Facebook), 2/16/2022
'2 people killed in Portsmouth 32 years ago... Seeks new tips...' (Seacoast Online), 2/16/2023, by Ian Lenahan
'Stella Bolton, James Moore found stabbed to death after house set on fire' (WMUR), 2/16/2023, by KC Downey
'Sea Crest Village Records, 1941-1985' (Portsmouth Athenaeum)
Official records
Various census records
Various military records for JJ Moore
Marriage certificate between JJ Moore and Magnolia Presley, indicating his year of birth as 1914, here
Photos
As credited above
Credits
Research, vocal performance, and audio editing by Kristen Seavey
Research, photo editing, and writing support by Byron Willis
Written by Morgan Hamilton
Additional research by Chelsea Hanrahan and Ericka Pierce
Murder, She Told is created by Kristen Seavey.