CONCORD, NH — A Rockingham County grand jury has re-indicted a Candia man in connection with the 2023 fatal shooting of his uncle in Derry, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.
John Kratz, 31, faces two second-degree murder counts tied to the death of John Kratz Jr., 64. One charge alleges that he knowingly caused his uncle’s death by shooting him in the head with a firearm. The other alleges he recklessly caused the death under circumstances showing extreme indifference to human life.
Kratz was arrested Nov. 10 after the indictments had been returned under seal earlier that month. He was arraigned in Rockingham County Superior Court on Nov. 12, when the charges were unsealed.
How prosecutors say the case developed after the 2023 shooting
The case stems from the May 17, 2023, shooting death of John Kratz Jr. in Derry. Prosecutors say the fatal shooting involved a firearm and that the victim was shot in the head.
At this stage, the indictments only represent formal accusations. They do not amount to a conviction, and court proceedings will determine how the case moves forward.
Officials have said the earlier criminal case against Kratz was dismissed without prejudice in 2024 after he was found incompetent to stand trial. That meant the case could be brought again later if circumstances changed.
Why the grand jury returned two murder theories
Second-degree murder charges in New Hampshire can be presented under alternative legal theories in the same case. In Kratz’s indictment, prosecutors allege both that he knowingly caused his uncle’s death and, separately, that he acted recklessly in a way that showed extreme indifference to human life.
The attorney general’s announcement said both counts arise from the same fatal shooting. The different theories give prosecutors options as the case progresses, while leaving the ultimate decision to the court.
Because the indictments were unsealed only after the arraignment, the public record now shows both versions of the murder allegation, even though they refer to the same death.
Arrest, sealing of the indictments and arraignment in superior court
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the indictments were returned under seal on Nov. 4, along with an arrest warrant. Derry police arrested Kratz on Nov. 10, and the matter then moved into court two days later.
Rockingham County Superior Court held the arraignment on Nov. 12, when the sealed filings were opened. Kratz is currently being held without bail.
The sequence is typical in serious felony cases when prosecutors seek an arrest warrant after a grand jury vote. The sealing of the indictments kept the charges out of public view until after the arrest and initial court appearance.
What the 2024 dismissal without prejudice means for the case
The prior case was dismissed without prejudice after a finding that Kratz was incompetent to stand trial in 2024. That type of dismissal does not end a prosecution forever and can leave room for a later indictment if the legal situation changes.
That appears to be what happened here, with the new grand jury action reviving the case. The attorney general’s office has not said in the announcement what changed between the 2024 dismissal and the 2026 re-indictment.
For now, the renewed charges put the case back into active criminal court proceedings, with the allegations centered on the death of Kratz’s uncle nearly three years ago.
What comes next for John Kratz in Rockingham County
With the indictments unsealed and bail denied, the case will now continue through the Rockingham County court system. The indictment gives prosecutors a formal path to pursue the murder charges, while the defense will have the opportunity to respond in court.
No conviction has been entered, and the attorney general’s office emphasized that the filing is an accusation rather than proof of guilt. Court filings and future hearings will determine the next stage.
For residents following the case in Derry, Candia and greater Rockingham County, the re-indictment marks the latest development in a homicide investigation that began in 2023 and returned to court after an earlier pause.
