News Release

On Friday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 1:26 AM, the Lewiston-Auburn Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting on Union Street in Lewiston. Lewiston Police responded to the scene and requested assistance from the Maine State Police. Upon arrival, officers located a female suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Maliyah Powell of Lewiston, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death homicide.  Detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, along with Evidence Response Technicians, processed the scene throughout the morning.

As a result of the investigation 25-year-old Elise Bergeron of Lewiston, was arrested and charged with Murder. She was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail. The investigation is being conducted by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076 option 9.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 2:14 PM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central arrested 30-year-old Edward Longley of Skowhegan in Skowhegan.

Longley has been charged with Murder and Elevated Aggravated Assault in connection with a shooting that occurred on February 2, 2026, on Flagg Street in Augusta. As a result of the incident, 51-year-old Billyjack Curtis of Augusta 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.

A second victim, 40-year-old Sherry Gilley of Brunswick, was also injured during the shooting. She was initially transported to MaineGeneral in Augusta and later transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. She was released and is currently recovering from her injuries.

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

On Monday, March 16, 2026, at approximately 5:30 PM the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a report from an individual near the Number 1 Road in Limington who stated they had found what they believed to be a grenade near a dumpster along the roadway. Troopers from the Southern Field Troop responded and identified the object as a potentially hazardous device and requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Bomb Squad.

Technicians responded to the scene and attempted to X-ray the item; however, they were unable to determine the exact status of the energetic material inside. Out of an abundance of caution, the item was countercharged on site and deemed safe.

A photo of the item is attached. The device closely resembles a military-style M67 hand grenade, though it appeared to have been altered.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at approximately 5:38 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-95 in Waterville.

Preliminary details of the scene indicate a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Raymond Fenderson of Brunswick, was merging onto I-95 northbound off of the mile marker 130 on ramp from Waterville when Fenderson collided with a motorist who was traveling northbound on I-95. Fenderson’s vehicle crashed head-on into the guardrail on the median side and Fenderson became entrapped in the vehicle. Crews from Waterville-Fire and Rescue responded and worked to extricate Fenderson from the vehicle, ultimately freeing him after approximately 30 minutes.

Raymond sustained serious injuries that are considered non-life threatening and was transported by Waterville Fire to a local hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The preliminary investigation indicates impairment is a likely factor. The crash remains under investigation. The passing lane on I-95 was shut down for the duration of time it took emergency responders to remove Raymond and clear the wreckage from the roadway.

The Maine State Police was assisted by the Waterville Fire Department and Dostie’s Towing.

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, at approximately 07:30 PM, the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting the shooting of 23-year-old Makayla Rose Desantis of Colchester, Connecticut. First responders transported Makayla to MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington prior to her eventual transport to Maine Medical Center in Portland where she succumbed to her injuries. Investigators learned that Makayla sustained her injuries at a residence on Left Bank in Carrabassett Valley.

On the evening of March 9, 2026, 24-year-old Austin Doucette of Carrabassett Valley was arrested and charged with the murder of Makayla Rose Desantis.

This investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and was assisted by the Carrabassett Valley Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.  

The investigation is ongoing. Additional information will be released when it’s appropriate to do so.

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at approximately 5:38 PM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received numerous traffic complaints about a red SUV traveling at high speeds and weaving in and out of traffic on I-95 in the Auburn area. Despite several attempts Troopers were unable to locate the vehicle.

A short time later a Trooper located the vehicle around mile marker 83 southbound in Lewiston however the vehicle failed to stop for the Trooper. Spike strips were deployed around mile marker 68 in New Gloucester and the vehicle’s tires started to deflate. The vehicle came to a stop before the toll plaza southbound and a high-risk stop was initiated. This caused southbound traffic to come to a complete stop.

The driver, 51-year-old Carla Williams of Homewood, Alabama was taken into custody and charged with Driving to Endanger and Failing to stop for a Law Enforcement Officer. She was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, at approximately 1:46 AM, Troopers responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash on the northbound off-ramp of Interstate 95 at mile marker 53 in Falmouth.

The crash involved a single vehicle and a single occupant. The driver, identified as 33-year-old Daniel St. Peter of Windham, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle, a blue Honda Accord, left the roadway and rolled.

The northbound off-ramp was closed for approximately 90 minutes while emergency personnel responded and investigators processed the scene. Assisting on scene was Portland Fire and Rescue. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

On Monday, February 9, 2026, at approximately 4:20 PM, the Maine State Police Special Victim’s Unit arrested 79-year-old Eliot Cutler of Brooklin in South Portland.

Maine State Police Detectives were in Cumberland County conducting separate, unrelated investigative activity and were at a hotel in South Portland when Cutler was encountered. During that interaction, it was determined that Cutler was in violation of the conditions of his probation. After consulting with Cutler’s Probation Officer, Cutler was taken into custody and transported to the Cumberland County Jail, where he is being held on a probation hold.

No additional information is being released at this time.

On Friday, February 6, 2026, at approximately 2:44 PM, Maine State Police Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Blue Hill Road in Surry. The initial investigation indicates that a 2015 Subaru Forester was traveling northbound when it crossed the center line for an unknown reason and struck two southbound vehicles, a 2018 Honda Fit and a 2024 Ram 2500.

The operator of the Subaru Forester sustained critical injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The operators of the other two vehicles were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated and later released. The deceased operator has been identified as 47-year-old Mark Nevells of Brooksville.

The crash remains under investigation.

On Monday, February 2, 2026, at approximately 11:15 PM, the Augusta Police Department responded to a shooting at a residence on Flagg Street in Augusta. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased adult male. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Central responded to assist with the investigation. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was conducted.  

The cause of death has been determined to be a gunshot wound, and the manner of death a homicide. The deceased has been identified as 51-year-old Billyjack Curtis of Augusta. There is no known danger to the public.

The investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so.