As the Hanover community prepares to mourn this afternoon at Rollins Chapel, Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Ayotte would not comment on reports that the investigation was pursuing a suspect from Arizona.
Ayotte yesterday confirmed reports that a white sedan was impounded from the Manchester Airport Thrifty Car Rental agency, but she added that a number of vehicles are being examined.
She would not comment on other unconfirmed reports that the car was returned to the agency by a middle-aged man with a connection to the University of Arizona.
Unlike other leads that have been ruled unrelated to the investigation, Ayotte said the particular is still under consideration.
As of this morning, Ayotte said arrest is still not imminent, but she said the case's status continues to be reevaluated on a day-to-day basis.
Ayotte continued to decline comment on the number of people being questioned, any particulars of the crime scene, a motive that may have led to the murder or whether the homicides were perpetrated by one or more than one person.
She said she could not comment on more specifics because the potential for doing "irreparable harm" to people's reputations was vast and jeopardizing the investigation's progress was a distinct possibility - especially with the high level of media scrutiny.
She repeated that the investigation was not limited to Hanover because of the Zantops wide-reaching influence. "The Zantops were not just members of the Dartmouth community, they were members of the world community."
She indicated that investigators are communicating with other jurisdictions - following protocol as need arises, but did not confirm that the state of Arizona was one of those jurisdictions.
At this point, the FBI is not involved, but the bureau may be called on in the future if need for its particular expertise arises, Ayotte said.
But Ayotte assured the public that police were still receiving tips, and the investigation was "in no way" stagnant. She also said the level of commitment of the team of about 35 investigators and the state of New Hampshire has not diminished.
There has been a continuous flow in and out of the team, to keep investigators "fresh," she said.
When asked if investigators are worried at the growing elapsed time since the murders, she said every investigation is unique, and said the team remains confident that the case will be resolved.
