Couple Found Dead On Thanksgiving Morning

"GOULDSBORO, ME — Police investigating the deaths of a Gouldsboro couple found shot to death on Thursday morning believe that the husband shot his elderly wife to death then turned his handgun on himself.

"State police spokesman Stephen McCausland said Thursday evening that the deaths of 75-year-old Virginia Hutchins and 65-year-old Raymond Hutchins `appear to be a murder/suicide.`

"A relative who went to check on the couple at their Grand Marsh Bay home found their bodies on their couch, where a handgun was also recovered, McCausland said in a written statement. Virginia Hutchins had been in `poor health for some time` and Raymond Hutchins was her full-time caregiver, McCausland said.

"The State Medical Examiner’s Office will examine their bodies Friday or Saturday."

Source: Portland Press Herald...

Family Of Five Found Dead In Apartment

"SACO, ME — State police said Monday afternoon that 33-year-old Joel Smith shot and killed his wife and three children before killing himself on Sunday afternoon in their apartment on 35 Water Street.

"Smith shot his wife, Heather Smith, 35; his stepson, Jason Montez, 12; and his two children, Noah Montez, 7, and Lily Smith, 4, Maine State Police Sgt. Chris Harriman said at a press conference.

"The older two children were shot in their separate bedrooms, and Heather Smith and the daughter were killed in the master bedroom, where Joel Smith committed suicide. Harriman said it appeared all the victims were sleeping in bed at the time of the shootings. Some were shot multiple times.

"`We know that they were having some domestic issues, some financial problems,` Harriman said. `We’re going to try to get to the bottom of that by interviewing friends, family, friends of the children.`

"Harriman said police had not previously been called to the house. He said prescription medications were found in the house, but would not elaborate."

Source: Bangor Daily News...

Gun Purchased The Day Before Murder/Suicide

"WESTBROOK, ME — Patrick Milliner, 30, of South Portland fatally shot Matthew Rairdon, 22, of Westbrook inside Rairdon's Main Street apartment in Westbrook Saturday morning and then shot himself, according to Maine State Police.

"The apparent murder-suicide likely took place early Saturday morning, just after midnight, as Rairdon was returning home from work, Maine State Police and Westbrook Police reported.

"A female roommate of Rairdon's found the two bodies about 11 a.m. Saturday, police reported. Police said the two men are former lovers whose relationship recently ended.

"Detectives say Milliner shot Rairdon with a handgun inside Rairdon's apartment and then shot himself. A .40 caliber Glock handgun was found by Milliner's body.

"Rairdon was a nurse at Mercy Hospital and Milliner was a correctional guard at the Maine Correctional Facility in Windham. He currently was attending the correctional guard training program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and purchased the .40 caliber Glock handgun on Friday, police reported.

"Because of the men's prior relationship, Rairdon's death will be classified as a domestic violence homicide. Autopies were expected to take place Sunday at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta.

"Rairdon's death was the state's 23rd homicide of the year and the tenth homicide that was domestic violence related, police reported.

"The bodies were found inside the first floor apartment at 318A Main St., at the corner of Waltham Street, Westbrook."

Source: Portland Daily Sun...

Father And Son Found Dead

"FREEPORT, ME — Police say a father and son are dead in an apparent murder/suicide in Freeport.

"Police say the bodies of 66-year-old John Dorrington and his 32-year-old son, Nicholas Dorrington, were found Tuesday morning inside the family home on Route 136.

"State police spokesman Steve McCausland says the bodies were found in a bedroom by the father’s wife after she returned home from work. He says the son lived in the home with his parents.

"McCausland said the men died of gunshot wounds, and that it appears the father was responsible for the deaths. He says investigators are trying to determine what sparked the violence."

From seacoastonline...

Domestic Violence Claims Lives Of Elderly Couple

"CHAPMAN, ME — State Police say the shooting deaths of an elderly couple in Aroostook County was a case of domestic violence murder/suicide.

"Autopsies were performed Friday morning on the bodies of 81-year-old Marcus Sykora and his wife 77-year-old Sheila Sykora.

"Their bodies were discovered late Thursday morning in a home on Chapman Road in the town of Chapman, near Presque Isle.

"The State Medical Examiner's Office determined both died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

"Detectives say Marcus Sykora shot his wife and then turned the handgun on himself.

"The bodies of the couple were discovered in their basement apartment by their daughter who they lived with.

"Sylvia Sykora was alive, but died at the hospital.

"The daughter, Sylvia Buob, was in another section of the house when the shootings took place. She heard the gunshots, went to her parent's apartment, and then called 911.

"The couple had been number of medical issues and had moved to Chapman to live with their daughter in recent months, after living with their son in Kansas City, Missouri."

From wabi.tv...

Killer Left "Rambling" Suicide Note

"ALTON, ME — Scott Reed stabbed his estranged wife, Danielle, to death at their house and met his best friend at a Bangor restaurant before both men were found dead of gunshot wounds at the Reed home on Nov. 19, state police said Sunday.

"Speaking in detail for the first time about the grisly incident, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said investigators don’t yet know whether 43-year-old Scott Reed shot 41-year-old Daniel Young or if Young killed himself, possibly as part of a suicide pact with Reed.

"The three bodies were found at Reed’s rental at 326 Alton Tannery Road by a female friend shortly before 7:30 p.m.

"The men had been close friends for several years and reportedly had talked about suicide. Immediately after returning to Maine from an out-of-state location and killing his wife at her home, Reed sought Young, of Bradley, at his workplace, McCausland said.

"Young owned one of two handguns found at the scene, McCausland said.

"The last of the three autopsies was performed Saturday. The chief medical examiner ruled 39-year-old Danielle Reed’s cause of death was `multiple stab and incised wounds to the neck, including the throat` while Scott Reed and Young died from “close contact gunshot wounds to the head,” McCausland said.

"`This is also a domestic violence incident,` McCausland said.

"Scott Reed `came back to Maine, went to the house and confronted his estranged wife at that point and killed her,` McCausland said. `She is the true victim here.`

"The couple had been married for five years.

"Scott Reed left a suicide note at the scene. McCausland only described it as `rambling.`"

Source: Bangor Daily News...

SWAT Team Finds Bodies In Kitchen

"HAMPDEN, ME — The bodies of a man and woman were found Friday inside a Hampden house where a state police SWAT team had assembled, and the deaths are being investigated as a murder-suicide, authorities said.

"The State Police Tactical Team discovered the bodies about noon when they entered the two-story house on 10 Marina Road near Route 1A in this town outside of Bangor, state police said. The bodies were found in the kitchen, and both victims appeared to have been shot.

"Police came to the house after receiving a 911 call around 7 a.m. saying there had been a homicide, and the male caller said he planned to kill himself. Some homes and businesses in the neighborhood were evacuated, and Route 1A was shut down as a precaution.

"The victims, who were not married, are middle aged and their names are being withheld as relatives are notified, police said."

From SFGate.com...

UPDATE:

07/28/2012 — Shooter was from Florida...

Police Trying To Determine Who Shot Who

"WALDOBORO, ME — Police are still looking for answers in a double shooting in Waldoboro that left one man dead and his girlfriend in the hospital. Police believe the shooting happened sometime over the weekend.

"Waldoboro police got the call around 9:30 Monday morning. Two people were found shot in a house on 2177 Friendship Road. `Some family members came to check on the well being of Norman Benner and when they went inside that residence is when they placed that call,` said Sergeant Jeff Love of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit.

"Police say 34-year-old Norman Benner was pronounced dead on the scene. His girlfriend, 25-year-old Arline Lawless, was transported to a Damariscotta hospital with a gunshot wound to the face. She was later taken to a Portland hospital where she's in fair condition. `She's going to live,` said Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland.

"Police say they have spoken with Arline Lawless at the hospital but as far as what she remembers or what she's told them, they're not saying yet. `The Maine State Police Evidence Response Team is processing the scene,` Sgt. Love said. `Yesterday (Monday) and into the early evening hours we were able to complete a search warrant for the residence. So now we're processing the scene and once we gather the information from that, along with the cause and manner of death from the medical examiners office, we'll have a much better idea where we're at.`

"McCausland says they believe one of the victims appears to be the shooter and no one else was involved in the incident, but he would not divulge any other details about how the incident transpired."

From WABI...

Home Health Care Worker Finds Bodies Of Elderly Couple

"CARMEL, ME — State police determined that an elderly man shot his wife and then himself in a murder suicide, according to Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland.

"Patricia Johnson, 69, and her husband, Laurel Johnson, 74, were found dead in their Hampden Road home on Tuesday morning.

"`We received the call about 8:30 this morning from the medical care provider who arrived at the house for a prescheduled appointment,` said Lt. Christopher Coleman, commanding officer for Criminal Investigation Division No. 2. `She couldn’t get in. She called family members to come and they went in and discovered the bodies.`

"The bodies were found in a bedroom when relatives entered the home, said McCausland.

"Coleman said state police and CID responders arrived at the residence a little after 9 a.m.

"The hospice worker visited the home daily to provide care to Patricia Johnson, according to McCausland.

"The bodies were examined by the State Medical Examiner’s Office and it was determined that both died from a gunshot wound.

"Detectives said Laurel Johnson shot his wife and then turned the .22-caliber rife on himself, McCausland said in a press release.

"McCausland said the couple last was seen alive about 7 p.m. Monday."

Source: Bangor Daily News...

Out On Bail, Man Returns To Murder Family

"DEXTER, ME — Police say 37-year-old Steven Lake shot and killed his estranged wife, 38-year-old Amy Lake, along with their two children, 12-year-old Monica Lake and 13-year-old Coty Lake and then shot and killed himself. Police say Lake had a protection from abuse order against him after he held the family hostage at gunpoint last year in Wellington. Lake was free on bail and had an upcoming trial.

"Investigators say a co-worker drove by Amy Lake's home around 8 a.m. and saw that Steven Lake's car was in the driveway. Dexter Police responded to the scene and the first officer to arrive heard gunshots from inside the house, according to Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland. The officer then called for back-up from several agencies, according to McCausland, who says that negotiators from State Police tried for more than two hours to contact Steven Lake through the phone and PA system.

"McCausland says Amy Lake was a teacher at Dexter Middle School - the same school her two kids attended. Coty Lake was to graduate from the eighth grade on Friday, according to McCausland.

"A tactical team entered the home around 2 p.m., McCausland said. Police say some of the victims had been shot multiple times. Their bodies were found in the living room. In their press release, police called the shooting a `despicable case of domestic violence`."

From WGME.com...

Trapped By Cops, Wife Shooter Kills Himself

"GRAY, ME — A woman was shot and killed by her husband in Winslow on Monday night, and he committed suicide after a chase with police that ended in Gray, Maine State Police said late Monday.

"State police identified the couple as 30-year-old Sarah Gordon and 32-year-old Nathaniel Gordon, both of 4 Marie St. She was shot along Marie Street and he fled the scene in his car, police said.

"Nathaniel Gordon shot himself inside his car after police put down a spike mat, causing him to crash along the Maine Turnpike, roughly 100 yards from Route 26, shortly after 9 p.m.

"The evening chase moved through a number of towns, including Lewiston, before state police were able to get a spike mat down and disable the vehicle.

"Maine Public Safety Spokesman Stephen McCausland said Sarah Gordon was found by police early Monday night after residents on Beck Street in Winslow called to report shots fired.

"The shooting occurred before 8 p.m. and Nathaniel Gordon was pursued by police as he headed south. A little over an hour later, he shot himself after hitting a guardrail.

"A witness said the suspect crashed into a guardrail a short distance from the Route 26 overpass after one of his tires was blown out. Police said it was shortly after the wreck that Gordon shot himself."

Source: Sun Journal...

Shooter Calls Cops To Report "Two Mercy Killings"

"SKOWHEGAN, ME — Police say they're treating the deaths of an elderly couple found in their central Maine home as an apparent murder-suicide.

"Maine State Police said the bodies of 86-year-old Barbour Flewellen and his 75-year-old wife, Marie Flewellen, were found Tuesday morning in the bedroom of their Skowhegan home on 27 Alder Street.

"Detectives said Barbour Flewellen appears to have shot his wife before fatally shooting himself.

"Skowhegan police said Flewellen called them shortly before 11 a.m. to report `two mercy killings.` When police arrived minutes later, the couple was dead.

"Police said a .22-caliber handgun was found near the bodies, but no suicide note was located."

From boston.com...

UPDATE:

05/20/2012 — Portrait of a mystery...

Couple Found Dead In Maine

"HOLLIS, ME - Police say they believe the deaths of a Hollis couple discovered this afternoon were a murder-suicide.

"A relative found Mike Lagarde, 50, and Freda Lagarde, 44, at their home in Hollis at 1 p.m. after being unable to reach them by telephone.

"Police believe Mike Lagarde shot his wife of five years then shot himself in the couple's mobile home on Brookside Drive. The bodies were found in and near a back bedroom by an adult daughter of Freda Lagarde.

"Freda Lagarde worked at LOXICS in Biddeford and Mike Legarde worked at Garland Manufacturing in Saco.

"The shooting may have occurred Tuesday night, pollice said."

From The Portland Press Herald...

Maine Couple Found Dead By Son

"PRENTISS TWP, ME - State police released the names of the couple found dead in their Averill Road home Tuesday morning. They are Dean and Debbie Meitzler, both 51.

"The state medical examiner says the autopsies have confirmed that both died of gunshot wounds.

"Police say that Dean Meitzler shot and killed his wife with a rifle and then turned the gun on himself. It happened in the bedroom of their home.

"The couple's son, 29 year old Jason Meitzler, reported the shooting to police. He was in another room of the house at the time of the shootings.

"State police and Penobscot County Sheriffs deputies responded to the home at 10:30 Tuesday morning.

"They found no suicide note and are continuing to investigate what sparked the violence."

From WCSH6.com...

Father, Son Found Dead In Driveway

"GRAY, ME - Maine police say a father and son were shot to death in the driveway of their home in Gray and that there's no indication anyone else was involved.

"Steve McCausland of the Maine Department of Public Safety Department identified the victims as 44-year-old Daniel McLatchie and 22-year-old Benjamin McLatchie. He says a rifle was found near the bodies, and investigators found no evidence that anyone else was involved in the shootings.

"McCausland said the two men lived at the home at 1227 Yarmouth Road in Gray with Allison McLatchie, 45, the wife and mother of the victims. She was at work at the time of the shootings.

"Deputies with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department found the bodies after being called to a house on Route 115 at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"Dr. Margaret Greenwald, the state's chief medical examiner, visited the scene. McCausland said autopsies will be performed Wednesday in Augusta."

From WCSH6.com...

Nobody Heard Gunshots

"OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME - Maine state police say they are investigating the deaths of a husband and wife found shot to death in their home in the seaside town of Old Orchard Beach as a murder-suicide.

"Sgt. Chris Harriman said a family friend found 55-year-old Bruce Savoy and 50-year-old Stacey Savoy inside their Pleasant Street home shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. Nobody heard gunshots, but police think the shootings took place Monday around 6 p.m.

"Harriman said Bruce Savoy worked as a code enforcement officer in Wells and as a volunteer firefighter in Old Orchard Beach, and that Stacey Savoy worked at Unum Corp.

"Police said a gun has been recovered. The bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office for examination."

From WGME.com...

Police Investigate "Gruesome, Complicated Crime Scene"

"WESTBROOK, ME - Two teenagers discovered their parents bodies in their Westbrook condo Tuesday in what police have called `a gruesome, complicated crime scene.`

"Westbrook police said they believe the deaths stemmed from a domestic violence situation but will wait until autopsy results are complete before drawing any conclusions.

"`Both victims died a violent death involving stab wounds,` Westbrook Police Chief William Baker said.

"Detectives wore hazardous materials suits Wednesday while collecting evidence from inside unit No. 9 at the Juniper Lane Condominium Complex in Westbrook."

From WMTW.com...