2026

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, members of Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- South and the Portsmouth Police Department arrested 59-year-old Daniel Jolly of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in connection with the 1993 homicide of 73-year-old Maxine Bitomski of Kittery.

At approximately 6:13 AM Jolly was arrested in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on a warrant charging him with Murder. Jolly was transported to the Rockingham County jail. He will remain in New Hampshire pending extradition proceedings.

On January 16, 1993, at approximately 3:24 PM, officers from the Kittery Police Department responded to 3 Colonial Road in Kittery after Bitomski was found deceased inside her home by family members. The Kittery Police Department immediately began investigating the circumstances surrounding her death and notified the Maine State Police shortly thereafter. Detectives from both agencies continued working the case over the next three decades.

On January 17, 1993, an autopsy was conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. The cause of death is not being released at this time pending the unsealing of court documents. The manner of death was determined to be homicide.

Investigators determined Jolly knew Bitomski through his employment with Medical Market, a medical supply company that was based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that provided oxygen equipment and services to Bitomski prior to her death.

Beginning in 2021, the investigation was re-examined by Detectives assigned to Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- South. Investigators continued pursuing leads, reviewing evidence, and utilizing advances in DNA testing that ultimately led to Jolly’s arrest.

“This arrest reflects the determination and commitment of investigators who never stopped working this case,” said Lt. Tom Pickering who oversees Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- Unsolved. “The work completed by current and retired Maine State Police Detectives, members of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and the Kittery Police Department over the past 33 years was instrumental in bringing this case to this point.”

Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- South was assisted by Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- Unsolved, Maine State Police Crime Laboratory, Kittery Police Department, New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit, and the Portsmouth Police Department. If anyone has information related to the death of Maxine Bitomski, please contact Major Crimes  Unit Sgt. Justin Huntley at (207) 624.7076 (option 9)

The investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released when appropriate.

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, at approximately 5:54 PM, Maine State Police attempted to stop a stolen pickup truck on Route 25 in Limington for poor operation. The truck failed to stop and continued southbound on Route 25 into Standish.

The vehicle had been reported stolen from a residence in Limington approximately one hour earlier. The truck continued on Route 25 before turning northbound onto Route 113. The pursuit traveled through Baldwin and into Hiram, where spike mats were deployed and successfully disabled the vehicle.

The operator was identified as 33-year-old Shaun Webster of Limington. Webster was arrested and transported to the York County Jail. The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office and Sacopee Rescue assisted. Webster has been charged with Theft by Unauthorized Use, Failure to Stop for a Law Enforcement, Driving to Endanger, Operating Under the Influence, Aggravated Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass and Passing a Roadblock.

On Thursday, May 21st, 2026, at approximately 3:20 PM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central arrested 66-year-old James Simonson of Clinton in Clinton. Simonson has been charged with Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person in connection with a shooting that occurred in late June of 2025, on Main Street in Clinton.  

As a result of the incident, 68-year-old William “Bill” Parent of Clinton died from the injuries he sustained. An autopsy was conducted at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, which determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide.

Simonson was transported to the Kennebec County Jail where he is being held without bail. No further details will be released at this time.

Kittery, ME — At approximately 9:50 AM on Wednesday, 05/20/2026, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard civilian divers conducting routine barge inspections in the area of Berth 14 (Dry Dock 3 facing Kittery Foreside) discovered human remains in the water.

Maine State Police and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) are currently investigating. The remains will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for identification and to determine the cause and manner of death.

There is no danger to the public. No further information is available at this time.

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, at approximately 9:37 AM, Maine State Police responded to a report of a domestic violence incident at a residence on Oak Point Road in Trenton. While responding, Troopers learned the male suspect had left the residence and may be in possession of hazardous explosive items. Troopers later located the suspect’s vehicle at his residence on Bar Harbor Road in Trenton and secured the scene. The female involved did not have any injuries.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maine State Police Bomb Squad also responded. During the investigation, several improvised explosive devices and materials to manufacture them were located and rendered safe by the Maine State Police Bomb Squad. The suspect, 43-year-old Anthony Nickerson of Trenton, was taken into custody without incident.  

Nickerson was charged with Domestic Violence Assault, Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited Person, Arson, and Criminal Use of Explosives. The investigation remains ongoing. The Maine State Police was assisted by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Bar Harbor Police Department, and local fire and rescue agencies.

On January 16, 2026, the Hampden Police Department requested the assistance of the Maine State Police with an investigation related to locating missing 78-year-old Douglas Dunphy of Hampden. The Hampden Police Department had begun the investigation on January 15, 2026. Due to the facts and circumstances of the case, the Maine State Police - Major Crimes Unit North was assigned to provide assistance to the Hampden Police Department. Over the following weeks the Hampden Police Department, the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Warden Service and the Maine State Police - Major Crimes Unit North have been working in partnership to locate Douglas Dunphy.  Regretfully, as of today, Monday, May 4, 2026, Douglas Dunphy has not been located. Due to the complexity of the investigation, the Hampden Police Department has agreed to allow the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- North to take lead on the investigation moving forward. However, the Hampden Police Department will remain is support of on-going investigative efforts as a key partner. 

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Maine State Police will lead a search on the Kennebec Road in Hampden. Searches of high probability areas are common in missing person cases such as this. There is no known risk to the public and the searchers presence should not cause alarm. Search efforts are being coordinated and conducted by law enforcement, so the public is not being asked to assist.

Future media updates will be released as more information becomes available.

Anyone with relevant information related to this case should please call 207.973.3700 EXT. 9 and ask to speak with Det. Jennifer Fiske.

Information related to this case may also be submitted to the Major Crimes Unit – North via an on-line tip portal.  https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/report-crime/major-crimes-unit-north

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at approximately 7:50 PM, Troopers from Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to the Liberty Town Hall for a report of an assault that had taken place there.

Upon the subsequent investigation that ensued, it was determined that probable cause existed for the arrest of 56-year-old Roland Singer of Liberty was charged with two counts of Simple Assault against one of the selectboard members who sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Singer was also charged with one count of Criminal Mischief.

No other information is available at this time.

On Friday, May 8, 2026, at approximately 3:45 AM, Troopers responded to a crash on the Maine Turnpike near mile marker 106 in Farmingdale.

The initial investigation indicates a tractor-trailer struck a portion of a Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) Truck Mounted Attenuator at a tapered lane closure and went into the ditch. An MTA worker reported minor injuries and was transported by Gardiner Rescue as a precautionary measure. Lane 2, which had already been closed by the MTA crew prior to the crash, remained closed while the vehicles were removed.

The operator of the tractor-trailer, 48-year-old Dennis Barber of Wilton, New Hampshire was issued a summons for failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle and improper passing of a stationary emergency or public service vehicle using lights. The crash remains under investigation.

On Friday, May 8, 2026, at approximately 2:17 PM, Detectives from the State Police Major Crimes Unit-Unsolved and Major Crimes Unit-South made an arrest in the 1987 murder of Alice Hawkes. 

Following a Cumberland County Grand Jury indictment issued on Thursday, May 7, 2026, State Police arrested 63-year-old Stephen Bouchard of Winslow in Winslow on a charge of Murder. Bouchard was Alice Hawkes’ live-in boyfriend at the time of her death. Her body was found on October 4, 1987, in the Westbrook apartment that they shared. Alice’s death was quickly ruled a homicide, and a comprehensive investigation by State Police and Westbrook Police detectives was conducted. The case, however, eventually went cold, though it continued to be reviewed by detectives over the years.

In 2025, the Major Crimes Unit-Unsolved initiated a full reinvestigation of Alice’s case which led to a decision by the Maine Attorney General’s Office to seek a Murder charge against Stephen Bouchard. Following his arrest, Bouchard was taken to the Cumberland County Jail, where he will be arraigned in the near future.

If anyone has information related to the death of Alice Hawkes, please contact the State Police Major Crimes Unit at (207) 657-5710.

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central is investigating the death of a missing Thomaston man. 64-year-old Darryl Sanborn of Thomaston was last seen in Waldoboro on April 5, 2026. On April 7, 2026, the Waldoboro Police Department requested assistance from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central regarding the disappearance of Mr.  Sanborn.

On April 17, 2026, a person walking on a dirt road off Wagner Bridge Road in Waldoboro discovered the body of an adult male. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed. The body has been positively identified as Darryl Sanborn.

The cause and manner of death are pending. There is no known danger to the public. No additional information is being released at this time.