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Prison Sentence Cannot 'Fix The Situation' In Fatal NH Home Invasion

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Steven Spader is in New Hampshire state prison Wednesday, serving consecutive life sentences for the brutal killing of Kimberly Cates and, among other charges, the attempted murder of her daughter Jaime in Mont Vernon in 2009.

After a short deliberation Tuesday the jury in Nashua found Spader guilty on six counts, including premeditated murder. Sentencing quickly followed and Judge Gillian Abramson did not hold back in her remarks.

"I could go on for days and days and days about the depth of your depravity," Abramson said. "But it is sufficient to say that you belong in a cage. For that reason, I am sentencing you consecutively to the maximum penalties, to ensure that you stay in that cage for the rest of your pointless life."

Before 19-year-old Spader was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, Cates' husband, David, spoke in court.

"The murder of Kim and savage attack on Jaime has pulled our small, close-knit community closer together. We now know we together can survive the most difficult circumstances," he said.

John Guinlan helped Cates with that impact statement. They've been friends since the Cates family moved to Mont Vernon about five years ago. WBUR's Bob Oakes speaks with Guinlan about the community reaction to Spader's sentence, and how the Mont Vernon community has supported the Cates family during this difficult time.

This program aired on November 10, 2010.

Headshot of Bob Oakes

Bob Oakes Senior Correspondent
Bob Oakes was a senior correspondent in the WBUR newsroom, a role he took on in 2021 after nearly three decades hosting WBUR's Morning Edition.

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