Handprint Studied in Dartmouth Deaths

Tuesday, January 30th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HANOVER, N.H. (AP) â€” Investigators examined what appeared to be a bloody handprint in a dormitory as they searched for evidence in the slaying of two Dartmouth College professors, a school official said Tuesday.

Two days after Susanne and Half Zantop were found dead in their home three miles from campus, police said Monday they didn't know who killed them or why. But a key investigator urged the community not to panic.

``There are no resources being spared to solve these homicides,'' said Kelly Ayotte, head of the state attorney general's homicide division.

Monday, police descended on a basement lounge and kitchen of Mid Massachusetts residence hall. Martin Redman, dean of residence life, said Tuesday that they were summoned after someone found what appeared to be bloody handprint on the arm of chair in the kitchen.

Redman played down the significance.

``There's such a feeding frenzy about what's going on,'' he said. ``I don't know if it means anything.''

Police did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Authorities have released little information about the investigation. Without knowing the nature of the crime, many in the community are concerned for their safety.

``We know there was a homicide, but we don't know how they died,'' said English professor Peter Cosgrove, a friend of the victims.

If the crime was targeted, there would be no cause for alarm, Cosgrove said. ``But if it wasn't, people worry that the killer could strike again,'' he said.

The Zantops were naturalized U.S. citizens who were born in Germany. Half Zantop, 62, taught Earth sciences; Susanne Zantop, 55, headed the German studies department and taught comparative literature and women's studies.

The Zantops often entertained at their house and had many overnight guests, Cosgrove said. They also had an apartment on the side of their house they sometimes rented to students.

The last homicides in Hanover happened when two graduate students were killed in 1991. Police said those slayings were the first in more than 40 years.

On the Net:

Dartmouth: http://www.dartmouth.edu

Town of Hanover: http://www.hanovernh.org