2025

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, at approximately 9:55 PM, Troopers responded to a report of a tractor trailer rollover on Interstate 295 at mile marker 150 northbound in Pittsfield.

The initial investigation indicates that the driver of the vehicle was traveling too close to the shoulder in the one-lane construction zone causing the tractor trailer to roll over. The driver was hauling a flatbed trailer with a load of construction supplies. The driver was not injured in the crash. 

There were no workers present at the construction site at the time of the crash. The State Police were assisted by the Pittsfield Fire Department and Dostie’s Towing. Traffic was diverted off of Exit 150, as the Interstate was closed to northbound traffic.

As of 4/14/25 at 5 AM, the crash was cleared.

On Monday April 14, 2025, at approximately 8:48 AM, Troop G responded to a multi vehicle crash at mile marker 23 northbound on I-95 in Kennebunk. 

The crash involved a 2019 Nissan SUV owned and operated by 45-year-old Kelly Adams of Lebanon, Maine, a 2022 Toyota SUV, and a 2004 Freightliner tractor trailer. The initial investigation indicates that the vehicle operated by Kelly Adams rear-ended the 2022 Toyota SUV and then struck the Tractor Trailer Unit which was legally stopped in the breakdown lane. Kelly Adams sustained significant injuries and was transported to Maine Medical Center in serious condition.

The driver of the Toyota SUV was transported to Maine Medical Center for evaluation. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

No charges have been issued at this point, but the case will be reviewed by the York County District Attorney’s Office. The Turnpike was blocked for approximately two hours. Northbound traffic was diverted off at Exit 19 in Wells.

Assisting the Maine State Police was the Wells Fire Department, Wells EMS, Maine Turnpike Maintenance, National Towing, Southern Maine Towing, and Chandlers Towing.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central in response to a death at a residence on Canaan Road in Hartland.

The deceased, an adult female, was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed on Monday, April 14, 2025. The results of the autopsy are pending, and the individual’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.

The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation. At this time, there is no known threat to the public.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at approximately 11:33 PM, the Oxford County Regional Communications Center received a report of several shots fired on Park Street in the town of Paris. A Maine State Police Trooper from the Southern Field Troop was in the area and responded to assist.

Upon arrival, a blue SUV was observed leaving the immediate area. Officers attempted a traffic stop in West Paris, but the driver refused to pull over, initiating a high-speed pursuit. Law enforcement agencies from Oxford and Androscoggin counties assisted in the pursuit.

A spike mat was successfully deployed, and the vehicle ultimately crashed in a field on Route 26 in Mechanic Falls terminating the pursuit. All four occupants of the vehicle were transported to Central Maine Medical Center. One passenger sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The other passengers were treated and released. Two firearms were recovered following the pursuit.

The driver, 24-year-old Luis Andres Lorenzo Rondon of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arrested and charged with Eluding an Officer, Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon (vehicle), Driving to Endanger and Criminal Speeding. Rondon was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail. No injuries were reported in connection to the shots fired in Paris.

The investigation is ongoing.

On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at approximately 3:15 PM, the Maine State Police responded to reports of shots fired in front of a residence at 17 Prokey Drive in Limerick.

The initial investigation indicates 57-year-old Steven Henry of Limerick was observed doing a burnout in his vehicle in the roadway near the residence. When the homeowner came outside, an altercation occurred, and Henry allegedly discharged a firearm. A responding Southern Field Troop Trooper located the suspect vehicle, a maroon Nissan Titan pickup truck, a short time later on Shaving Hill Road in Limington.

When the Trooper arrived, both the driver and a passenger were outside the vehicle. They attempted to flee in the truck but remained in the immediate area. With the assistance of a Maine Game Warden both individuals were located and detained nearby.

The firearm believed to have been used in the incident—a handgun—was recovered by a Maine State Police K9 approximately 40 yards from where the vehicle was found. Further investigation revealed that the passenger had not been present at the time of the shooting.

No charges are being filed against the passenger at this time. Henry was taken into custody without incident and transported to the York County Jail. He has been charged with Attempted Murder, Reckless Conduct with a Firearm and Discharge of a Firearm near a Dwelling. The investigation remains ongoing.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, Troopers from the Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to the area of Unity Road in Benton following multiple 911 calls reporting a man walking down the road and recklessly firing a pistol, including toward homes. Troopers quickly located the individual and safely detained him without incident.

The man, identified as 32-year-old Joseph Costa, who is currently unhoused, was found to be in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Costa was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. He was later transported to the Kennebec County Jail and charged with 12 counts of aggravated reckless conduct with a firearm and one count of discharging a firearm near a dwelling. Costa was denied bail and is awaiting his initial court appearance.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076 or email Trooper Tyler Nadeau at Tyler.W.Nadeau@maine.gov.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central in response to a death at a residence on Canaan Road in Hartland.

The deceased, an adult female was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed on Monday, April 14, 2025. The deceased has been identified as 78-year-old Velma Withee of Hartland. The manner of death has been ruled homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. 

The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation. There is no known threat to the public. There is no further information available at this time.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, a Trooper from the Maine State Police Central Field Troop observed a black Chevrolet Impala on Townhouse Road in West Gardiner. The vehicle was driven by 34-year-old Pearle Thomas of Augusta, with her husband, 33-year-old Zebbie Thomas of Charleston, as a passenger. Zebbie Thomas has multiple active arrest warrants issued by other law enforcement agencies for felony robbery, aggravated assault, and violating conditions of release.  

Zebbie and Pearle have evaded law enforcement multiple times in past weeks during efforts to apprehend them. Today an attempt to initiate a traffic stop was made, but the Impala failed to pull over and a pursuit ensued. For the safety of the public and responding personnel, the Trooper executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver on West Road in West Gardiner, successfully terminating the pursuit.

Both Pearl and Zebbie Thomas were taken into custody without further incident. Both are being treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and will be transported to the Kennebec County Jail upon release. Pearle and Zebbie Thomas are charged with Eluding, Driving to Endanger and Failure to Stop. West Gardiner and Gardiner Fire Department’s assisted on scene.

On April 19, 2025, at approximately 10:30 AM, the Maine State Police responded to 128 Boots and Saddle Road in Palermo for a welfare check. Upon arrival, Troopers discovered the body of a deceased male outside of the residence. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit Central responded and determined the circumstances of the death to be suspicious.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was conducted.

The individual has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Bruso of Palermo. The manner of death has been ruled homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. There is no known danger to the public.

Bruso owned a golden retriever named Lennie, who has not yet been located. Anyone with information about the location of Lennie, or who may have seen a golden retriever in the area of Route 3 near Boots and Saddle Road and/or Level Hill Road in Palermo, is asked to contact the Augusta Regional Communication Center at 207.624.7076

Linda Maxwell, age 18, was last seen in the Calais area on August 23, 1984, after spending the evening with friends. Two days later her body was recovered along the shoreline of the St. Croix River in Robbinston, in Washington County. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, the case remained unsolved.  

On Thursday May 1, 2025, over 40 years later, the Maine State Police made an arrest in Linda Maxwell’s murder. Following an intensive and expanded investigation by Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit-Unsolved (MCU-U) and the Major Crimes Unit-North (MCU-N), the Attorney General’s Office presented the case to the Washington County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment charging 65-year-old Raymond Brown of Bangor, formerly of Pembroke, with Murder. 

Today, at approximately 4:15 PM, Brown was taken into custody after a traffic stop on Broadway in Bangor.  Brown will be transported to the Washington County Jail, where he will be held without bail.

This arrest reflects the continued commitment of the Maine State Police and the Attorney General’s Office to pursue justice in homicide cases, regardless of how much time has passed.

Anyone with information related to this case, or any unsolved homicide or missing persons case, is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police.

Augusta: 207-624-7076 or 1-800-452-4664
Bangor: 207-973-3700 or 1-800-432-7381
Houlton: 207-532-5400 or 1-800-924-2261