CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire congressional delegation members are urging the U.S. State Department to investigate the death of an American in Saudi Arabia.

The body of Christopher Cramer, of Milford, New Hampshire, was found beneath the third-floor balcony of the Sahara Makarim Hotel in Tabuk on Jan. 15. He was working for Merrimack-based Kollsman Inc. to help the Saudis with thermal optical devices, part of the country’s missile systems.

Family and friends said just before he died, the 50-year-old Cramer sent a text message to his roommate in Milford saying he thought something bad was going to happen and asking him to contact the State Department.

Kollsman officials initially told Cramer’s family that the company received information from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, indicating the death was a suicide, based on reports from Tabuk police. Cramer’s family later hired Dr. Michael Baden, the recently retired medical examiner for New York State Police, to perform an autopsy, and he determined it was a homicide. He suggests Cramer was severely beaten before he fell or was pushed off the balcony.

Baden said the initial death certificate identified the cause of death as being from multiple injuries but did not classify it as accidental, suicide or homicide.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.