Man accused in security guard's death released from prison hospital a day earlier

Richard Semo, left, who died in December; Tyler Thurston is accused in his death. (Semo, Courtesy; Thurston, Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - The New Durham man indicted on manslaughter charges in the death of a Frisbie Memorial Hospital security guard in December had been released from a prison hospital just 24 hours before the deadly encounter in the hospital's parking lot, his defense attorney said today.

During an explanation of why he had urged no jail time for his client defense counsel Carl J. Swenson also said Thurston had sought mental health services on seven occasion in the four months leading up to the deadly encounter.

Tyler Thurston, 30, of New Durham, is accused of punching Frisbie security guard Richard Semo, 64, in the face around 3:20 a.m. on Dec. 13 in the hospital's emergency room parking lot.
Rochester Police say Semo, of Farmington, a former Marine drill sergeant, then fell hitting his head on the pavement in the hospital's emergency parking lot. He was unresponsive when police found him and died five days later at Portsmouth Regional Hospital from a brain bleed.

Several of Semo's relatives were on the phone today during a remotely held status conference before Strafford County Superior Court Judge Tina L. Nadeau, but none spoke during the 15-minute hearing.

Assistant County Attorney Kayla Turner said a settlement conference would be held on July 8 during which Thurston would not be present.

That conference is expected to be the final chance for defense and the prosecution to come up with a mutually agreeable plea deal.

If no agreement can be reached a final pretrial conference would be held in February setting up a March 2022 jury trial.

Both Turner and Swenson agreed a three-day trial would be sufficient.

The manslaughter charge carries a 15-30 year prison term if convicted.

Thurston remains held without bail at Strafford County Jail.