Man charged with manslaughter in drummer's death

Mandy Patch

Laurie Henner

ROCHESTER, N.H. - A Barnstead man has been arrested in the death of bang n jane drummer Jim Unfonak who died as a result of an alleged bar assault last month outside a Rochester sports bar.

Eric Langlais, 41, of 31 Lincoln Lane, Barnstead, has been charged with Riot, a Class B felony and manslaughter, a Class A felony, for allegedly causing the death of Unfonak. Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau said today the charges allege Langlais recklessly caused Unfonak's death by punching him in the face and causing him to fall and hit his head on the frozen dirt parking lot at Gary's Sports Bar on Milton Road early the morning of Jan. 31.

Langlais is being held on $25,000 cash bail at the Strafford County Jail and will be arraigned on Tuesday in Strafford County Superior Court.

Also charged in the incident are two local women, Mandy Patch, 37, of Old Milton Road Rochester; and Laurie Henner, 41, of Whitebirch Lane in Farmington.

Patch was charged with one count of simple assault, a Class A misdemeanor and felony riot. She was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 26 in Strafford County Superior Court.

Henner was charged with one count of felony riot and released on $10,000 presonal recognizance. She is also scheduled for arraignment Feb. 26.

Boudreau said the two women were charged with felony riot for allegedly being part of a group looking to cause trouble and pick a fight.

Patch's simple assault charge was for allegedly hitting a female friend of Unfonak's at the scene.

Boudreau said another man was arrested on Friday in connection with the incident, but was not able to give his name.

Langlais could face up to 30 years in prison for manslaughter, while the two women could face up to seven years on the riot charges.

Rochester Police are still actively investigating the incident, we are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and who might have left the scene before the police arrived to please contact Det. Joe Rousseau at 330-7143 or call Rochester Crimeline at 335-6500. All calls to the Rochester Crimeline will remain confidential and rewards are given for information, which leads to arrests. You can also text the Rochester Crimeline at Crimes (274637) in the body write TEXT4CASH followed by your tip.