WOLFEBORO — Investigators are performing forensic tests on a bag found near the home of Stacey Burns, who was found murdered on Mother’s Day 2009.

Jeffery A. Strelzin, homicide prosecutor in the state Attorney General’s Office, said Wolfeboro police discovered a duffel bag in an overgrown area near the Burns property.

“This is not the first time we have analyzed items called to our attention in this case. We always collect items and try to determine if they are related to the case,” Strelzin said Thursday night.

He said it is not clear whether the bag is related to the death.

Burns left five children and many friends who want the homicide solved. Several hundred people joined the family to mark the third anniversary of her death May 10 by walking to the State House in Concord, chanting “Justice for Stacey.”

The case is considered actively under investigation; members of the state Cold Case Unit have assisted, Strelzin said.

Burns’ brother, Michael Keane of Grapevine, Texas, could not be reached Thursday for comment. But he said in May that he was frustrated by the lack of movement in the case and was told there were no new leads.

Strelzin, who also is head of the Cold Case Unit, said the matter continues to be pursued as an active case, with still not enough evidence to warrant an arrest.

Shortly before her death, Burns had been through a bitter divorce and had also recently broken up with Jim Vittum.

Vittum has said he failed a lie detector test given by police, though he maintained that he is not the killer.

Stacey Burns’ ex-husband, Ed Burns, now has custody of all five children. They range in age from 10 to 18 and are living in Massachusetts.

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