DEERFIELD (NH)
Union Leader [Manchester NH]
May 8, 2026
By Jonathan Phelps
Lawyers for a woman who says she was raped at least 100 times as a teenager while living in a group home in Deerfield in the early 1990s are prepared to present evidence to a jury that the state “knew or should have known” of the danger the girl was placed in.
Kristy Gesse, who filed a lawsuit against the state under the pseudonym Jane Doe #73, was placed at the Saddleback Mountain Retreat group home when she was 15 years old. She has since decided she would like to be named.
One of her lawyers, David Vicinanzo of Nixon Peabody, has said the state claims it is unable to locate key records, including the licensing for the group home. Saddleback was owned by Peter Tsetsilas and his wife, Beverly. The requests have included a motion to compel.
Merrimack County Superior Court Judge John Kissinger ruled that the state has “done everything in their power to locate and produce responsive information.”
The lawsuit alleges that Peter Tsetsilas sexually assaulted Gesse at the group home and various motels between October 1992 and February 1993, “when she was finally rescued by police.”
One record obtained by Gesse’s legal team suggests the state had prior specific knowledge, with one girl talking to police and other authorities about repeated assaults in 1985.
“The state simply looked the other way and kept sending prey to this predator for eight more years,” a pretrial statement reads.
Vicinanzo also points to the investigation and extensive media coverage of abuse reported in 1981-82 at Fort Courage, which shows the “endemic risks posed by group homes.” An investigation at the time found allegations of sexual abuse, and authorities removed six boys from the home.
Gesse, who now lives in Florida, is one of more than 1,600 people who filed lawsuits against the state, claiming widespread physical and sexual abuse of juveniles being held at the Youth Development Center and associated facilities. This will be the second lawsuit heard by a jury in a trial that is expected to last up to three weeks.
The lawsuit lists the state of New Hampshire; New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services; Division for Children, Youth and Families; and the now-defunct Saddleback Mountain Retreat as defendants.
Gesse seeks damages on the basis the state breached its fiduciary duty to her; negligently breached a duty of care to her; and negligently hired, trained, supervised and retained its employees, leading to harm to her.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which is represented by Senior Assistant Attorney General Samuel Garland, said “neither the facts nor the law supports her claims.”
In its pretrial statement, state officials said Gesse was placed at Saddleback after conflicts at other homes, including disagreements with staff and inappropriate sexual behavior. Officials said Gesse “eloped from the facility” with Tsetsilas.
“Because the sexual relationship was reported to be consensual, Mr. Tsetsilas was not charged with any sexual felony offenses but instead was charged with and pled guilty to only two misdemeanors,” Garland wrote.
Like other cases, the Department of Health and Human Services claims the lawsuit was filed 30 years later after finding out about similar claims seeking millions in damages.
“Plaintiff changed her story and claimed for the first time that Mr. Tsetsilas repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped her between November 1992 and February 1993,” the statement reads.
The state has argued the case should not proceed because of the statute of limitations.
‘Gross misconduct’
The plaintiff’s investigation said Peter Tsetsilas “would position himself as her ‘protector’ and groom the girl to submit to his sexual assaults.” One 16-year-old, identified in court documents as L.O., reported she had been assaulted within a few weeks of arriving at Saddleback Mountain Retreat in 1985.
The abuse was reported to police after L.O. was placed in a different home and her foster mother found her diaries, “in which L.O. had written extensive accounts of the abuse.”
Vicinanzo wrote that the Division for Children, Youth and Families discouraged L.O. from filing charges because it would ruin the family and the investigation prematurely ended.
“In the years between 1985 and 1992, dozens of girls were sent to his lair. Sadly, there is no telling how many additional girls became his victims because of the State’s egregious breach of its fiduciary duty,” Vicinanzo wrote.
Gesse says she was one of them. She ended up at the home after facing physical abuse by her stepfather, including beatings with sticks, belts and cords. Her school contacted authorities.
Tsetsilas groomed her by taking her to special places and giving her alcohol and other drugs, the lawsuit says.
Police discovered Tsetsilas had been keeping the girl in a motel in Concord.
Gesse’s lawyers said reports at the time called the allegations of sexual misconduct founded. Tsetsilas resigned from Saddleback in March 1993 and the home officially closed in June of that year, according to Union Leader archives.
The lawsuit also alleges the “indifference” of a case worker who made only one short visit to check on Gesse. The same untrained case worker ignored “textbook red flags” in Tsetsilas grooming Gesse, the lawsuit says.
“The State Defendants had a pattern of failing to protect children in their ‘legal custody’ and had notice of dangers posed to such children,” the pretrial statement reads.
Trial set for June
The trial is expected to begin June 15.
Most civil cases involving YDC have been put on hold as the New Hampshire Supreme Court handles an appeal by David Meehan, who was awarded $38 million in damages. Officials say the state owes Meehan only $475,000 because of a statutory cap.
The state says any mention of the YDC case and Meehan would be prejudicial and taint the jury pool.
Garland, the state’s lawyer, questions the state’s liability. Saddleback, as a licensed provider, was responsible for Gesse’s day-to-day care and supervision.
“Plaintiff cannot prove that DHHS was negligent in its placement and oversight of Plaintiff at Saddleback,” Garland wrote.
According to her lawyers, Gesse has suffered permanent psychological and emotional harm because of the state’s actions, which includes post-traumatic stress disorder, and at least two doctors are expected to take the stand.
The woman assaulted in 1985, L.O., is listed on the plaintiff’s preliminary witness list.