Maine man charged in N.H. beating death

DOVER, N.H.- A 21-year-old Maine man was arrested Sunday night and charged in the beating death of another man in Dover.

Police have charged Daniel Murphy of Eliot, Maine, with second-degree assault in the death of Thomas Janelle, 29, of Dover. Prosecutors have ruled the death a homicide, and they say charges could be upgraded.

Assistant Attorney General Ann Rice said Murphy was arrested at about 5 p.m. at the Strafford County Jail, where he was being held on an unrelated charge. He is now being held on the assault charge on $25,000 bail.

Rice said Janelle was severely beaten Friday night outside a home in Dover. He was released from the hospital a few hours later, then readmitted Saturday morning. He died at 7 p.m. Saturday. Rice would not discuss a motive. She said authorities are unclear on whether the two men knew each other.