The Murder of Russell Bean

Episode 164

Russell Bean

Russell Bean

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In the Fall of 1978, twenty-five year old Russell Bean mysteriously vanished from a small New Hampshire town. He left behind a wife, children, siblings and a mother. For a long, dark decade, Russell's fate remained a mystery until a dramatic confession changed everything.

In early March of 1988, a woman went to the police and relayed a story told by her father less than a week before his death. Her story suggested the location of a body and when police arrived they were shocked to discover Russell Bean had never left New Hampshire, but had been buried right beneath their noses.

The land belonged to Robert Chambers, a long-time resident, part-time police chief, Russell's former best friend and the man his wife next married. Soon the investigation was swallowed into a sensational chaos of rumors telling of a bizarre love triangle, anger, jealousy and betrayal. It was up to investigators to determine fact from fiction, myth from reality, in hopes of uncovering just who killed Russell Bean and who exactly knew where to find him for all those years?

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Sources:

Russell Bean | Cold Case Unit | NH Department of Justice

NH Supreme Court on Livestream

New Hampshire Judicial Branch - Supreme Court Oral Arguments 2018

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New Hampshire unsolved case file: Killing of Russell Bean

36 years after man disappears, family wants answers

9's Unsolved: Killing of Russell Bean

Chambers sentenced to minimum of 25 years in prison | Local News | sentinelsource.com

Ex-Wife: Chambers Killed Bean During Fight

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Former New Hampshire police chief faces sex assault charges | WPEC

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Russell Bean (1950s-1970s) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

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Police Chief's Yard Yields a Body and a Puzzle - The New York Times

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Russell Bean in high school | Local News | sentinelsource.com

Former NH police chief faces sex assault charges - Portland Press Herald