Derry Man Shot Estranged Wife Before House Burned: Investigators

CONCORD, NH — State investigators will file a murder charge against a Derry man if and when he recovers from burns after he was accused of shooting his wife before his house was set on fire.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said a single first-degree murder count will be filed against Manoel Viana, 57, of Derry, who the state accuses of shooting his wife, Lynn Marie Viana, 53, after a child exchange on Sunday. Lynn Marie Viana died due to a single gunshot wound to the head, according to an autopsy.

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"During a custody exchange of their adult child at Mr. Viana’s 27 Mt. Pleasant St. residence on April 4, 2021, Mr. Viana invited Ms. Viana inside the residence," Kate Giaquinto, the director of communications for the attorney general's office, said. "Shortly after Ms. Viana entered Mr. Viana’s residence, two noises, consistent with gunshots, were heard from within the residence. Shortly thereafter, the residence was engulfed in fire. The presence of ignitable liquids was detected within the residence and on or around Ms. Viana’s body."

Manoel Viana was dragged to safety from the burning home by three police officers. He is still being treated in a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries including burns and trauma to his head, Giaquinto said.

"While the investigation into the facts and circumstances leading up to and during this incident is ongoing, the Office of the Attorney General announces its intent, should Mr. Viana recover from his injuries, to seek a charge of first-degree murder, pursuant to RSA 630:1-a, with the allegation that he purposely caused the death of Lynn Marie Viana by shooting Ms. Viana in the head," Giaquinto added.

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