Man convicted of killing mother of his children in Berlin sentenced to prison
By Jon Schoenheider
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New Hampshire (WMUR) — A man found guilty of murdering the mother of his children and setting off an Amber Alert when he drove off with the children was sentenced Thursday to 45 years to life in prison.
Duren was convicted in October in the shooting death of 31-year-old Caitlyn Naffziger. It took the jury about three hours to find him guilty of second-degree murder, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, and child endangerment.
Prosecutors said in February of 2024, Duren killed Naffziger at his apartment in Berlin when she refused to leave. They said Duren shot the victim in the head while she was sitting on his couch. Duren then took off with their two children, prompting the Amber Alert. The kids, who were ages 1 and 4 at the time, were later found safe in Keene.
During his trial, Duren claimed Naffziger was demanding money that he did not have and threatened to report him for kidnapping if he did not pay. The defense said Duren believed he was protecting his children from their mother when he pulled the trigger.
Prosecutors argued that the case was about anger and control.
The sentencing hearing lasted hours as the judge heard impact statements from several witnesses on both sides of the case.
“Because of one person’s choice, her daughters must grow up without their mother,” said Shannon Spurgeon, Naffziger’s aunt.
Duren also addressed the courtroom, apologizing to Naffziger’s family and his own, including his children.
“There is no greater pain in this world than that of losing a child,” Duren said. “I grieve for you. I grieve with you. I’m sorry.”
Close to a dozen members of Nafziger’s family and friends shared how much her loss has changed their lives. Her mother, Lori Smith, described the days and weeks after the shooting, as well as her daughter’s funeral.
“I stood near here, looked at her face, crying and shaking, and I told her, ‘Goodbye my girl,'” Smith said. “My heart was breaking again, and I could barely breathe. Then, I left her behind.”
In sentencing Duren to 45 years to life in prison, the judge said he was agreeing with the prosecution’s sentencing request. Duren was also ordered to pay more than $12,000 in restitution.
Naffziger’s sister-in-law said she is raising the two girls, something that friends and relatives said Naffziger had requested.
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