By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

Police continue to consider the death of local woman an accidental drowning, though medical examination reveals she may have suffered a trauma to her head after her death.

The body of Anita Bergeron, 43, was found in the Piscataquog River near her Dumont Park Road home at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6.

“We consider this a tragic accident, and the case remains under investigation,” said Police Chief Michael French.

“There’s a distinct possibility she suffered a trauma to her head after her death, but I cannot speculate on how that might of happened,” French said.

The case remains under investigation by Goffstown police as well as the New Hampshire medical examiner, the Marine Patrol, the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game and the Hillsborough County Attorney, French said.

French denied a newspaper report in which a Goffstown detective was quoted as saying Bergeron’s injuries were inconsistent with an accidental drowning.

“I’m very familiar with that report, and that’s simply not the case,” French said.

Bergeron was last seen in front of her residence at approximately 6 p.m. the night before her death, according to a statement from the police department.

Members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department located her body.

Bergeron’s neighborhood was one of the most affected by the spring flooding earlier this year.

Shortly before her death, Bergeron spoke with The Goffstown News regarding the damage her home suffered in the Mother’s Day floods.

Bergeron was one of many residents cleaning up her residence on May 24, when she was interviewed by The Goffstown News.

“You think because you own your home you should just be able to go in,” Bergeron said in remarks published in the June 1 edition of the newspaper.

At the time, Bergeron was on of many residents allowed to enter her home for cleaning purposes, but could not live there.

A 20-year resident of Dumont Park Road, Bergeron said 5 feet of water stood in her home during the height of the flooding.

“I’ve had water come up to the house before, but I’ve never had water come in the house,” she said.

Bergeron addressed the process of moving back into her home during that interview. She said the effort would involve replacing everything in the home that was underwater, Bergeron said.

She also reflected on the sentimental items that cannot be replaced.

“It’s sad, seeing everything ruined,” Bergeron said. “The material things you can replace. But things like letters and photo albums you can never get back.”

Board of Selectmen Chairman Barbara Griffin spoke of Bergeron’s death at the board’s meeting of Monday, Aug. 7, commending the emergency and rescue workers who searched for her body.

An autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Anita Bergeron on Monday, Aug. 7, Griffin said.

Bergeron is survived by her husband, Richard.