Fifth arrest made in Mont Vernon murder

MONT VERNON, N.H. -- A fifth suspect was arrested Wednesday in the murder of a mother in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, and on Thursday he appeared in court to face charges.

Autumn Savoy, 20, was arrested and charged with two counts of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution.

Four teenagers were already arrested in connection with the murder of the 42-year-old Cates, who was killed in her bed with a machete on Oct. 4 while her husband was away on a business trip. The suspects also slashed her daughter's throat, causing severe injuries.

Court documents said Savoy met with 17-year-old Stephen Spader before the murder and the two agreed Savoy would provide Spader an alibi the night of the break-in, by saying the teen slept over at his home in Hollis.

The day after the crime, Spader and 20-year-old Christopher Gribble, the two murder suspects, allegedly told Savoy about what happened inside the Cates' family home. On the same day, New Hampshire state police said the trio took the murder clothes in a bag to dump in the Nashua River.

Officers said Savoy then lied to investigators by providing the planned alibi ruse.

Savoy is being held on $100,000 cash bail.

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