News Release

At approximately 2:07 AM, on August 29, 2024, the York Police Department received a 911 call from a male stating that he had been involved in a fight with his wife in Troy, New Hampshire and told authorities she was dead. New Hampshire State Police responded to the residence in Troy and located a deceased female. At approximately 2:30 AM, Kittery Police located the male’s vehicle on the Piscataqua River Bridge parked on the southbound side in Maine. Law enforcement agencies from New Hampshire and Maine responded and tried to negotiate with the male.

The bridge was shut down for several hours to protect the public, while negotiations were attempted, and the scene was secured. Negotiations were ultimately unsuccessful, and the male exited the vehicle and raised a firearm. Maine State Police Trooper Craig Nilsen and two New Hampshire State Police troopers responded with deadly force. The male subject was located deceased in the water below and declared dead at the scene. Law enforcement officers on scene located an eight-year-old child fatally shot in the backseat of the vehicle. This death is not associated with the officers’ use of deadly force. Maine State Police Major Crimes and New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes are investigating the deaths of the female and the child. The troopers involved in the incident are on administrative leave pending the Maine Attorney General’s investigation into the use of deadly force, which is standard protocol.

The Maine State Police would like to thank the Kittery Police Department, York Police Department, Eliot Police Department, New Hampshire State Police, Maine Turnpike Authority, New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and United States Coast Guard for their assistance in the investigation.

Due to a police incident, the Piscataqua River Bridge is closed, and I-95 is shut down in both directions. Northbound traffic from New Hampshire into Maine is completed blocked, and southbound traffic is being diverted at Exit 3 in Kittery. Please avoid the area and seek alternate routes if possible. The duration of the closure is unknown at this time. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM, Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on the Kennebec River Bridge on I-95 in Benton. The initial investigation indicates that the driver, 41-year-old Jed Carpenter of Harrington was traveling southbound when he lost control of his 2006 Ford Econoline Van and struck the bridge rail. Carpenter who was not wearing a seatbelt was partially ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene. The Interstate was diminished to one lane while crews worked to remove Carpenter’s body from the scene. Carpenter was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Speed and alcohol appear to be factors in this crash. Assisting on scene were the Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department, Fairfield Police Department, Clinton Police Department and Dostie’s Towing.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, at approximately 8:12 AM, Troopers responded to a crash on the Turnpike at mile marker 14 in Ogunquit.   

The initial investigation indicates that the driver of a white commercial van was traveling northbound when he lost control on wet pavement and rolled over in the median. Debris including roofing nails, construction equipment and power tools were thrown from the van into southbound lanes 1 through 3. A white Honda traveling southbound struck that debris, disabling the vehicle and deploying airbags causing minor injury to the female driver. The driver of the white van was 39-year-old Victor Miguel Cedillo Merchan of Brockton MA. He was not injured. There were four male passengers in the van. Three of those males were not wearing seatbelts and were transported to Portsmouth Hospital in New Hampshire with serious but non- life-threatening injuries. Speed and erratic operation appear to be factors in the crash. The crash is still under investigation. Southbound lane 1 & 2 were shut down, and lane 3 was temporarily shut down for cleanup. Lane 1 Northbound was also shut down. All lanes have been reopened.

On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at approximately 7:00 AM, Troopers from the Central Field Troop responded to Monmouth to assist with an active motor vehicle pursuit. The Monmouth Police Department located a vehicle possibly involved in a domestic incident that occurred earlier in Cumberland County. The female victim was reportedly in the vehicle with the suspect driving.  32-year-old Zebbie Thomas of Hiram, had two outstanding arrest warrants, was on probation, and was not allowed contact with the victim. The pursuit spanned from Winthrop, Monmouth, and Wales before being terminated due to safety concerns. Several hours later, information was gathered that Thomas was at a residence on Sadies Way in Augusta. State Police set a perimeter. The victim was able to get out of the residence. She was not injured. Thomas was arrested without incident after a short standoff. He was transported to the Kennebec County Jail for warrants and probation violations. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the domestic incident. Additional charges may be pending.

On August 19, 2024, at 8:46 PM, the Maine State Police – Central Field Troop received a 9-1-1 call from and responded to 41 Palmer Road in Pittston. The homeowner reported his door was kicked in, and he had shot the intruder. Troopers arrived shortly after the 9-1-1 call, secured the scene, and notified the State Police Major Crimes Unit, who responded and began an investigation. The male intruder was transported to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, is undergoing medical procedures, and is expected to live. The investigation is still ongoing. There is no threat to the public. More details will be released later. 

On Monday, August 19th, 2024, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central Division and Waterville Police continued their investigation into the death of an adult male at the residence of 119 Cool St. in Waterville. An autopsy was performed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner at 9:30 am on today’s date. The results of the autopsy determined the manner homicide and cause of death to be from sharp force injuries. On August 18th, Thomas Lowrie (41) of Waterville was arrested by State Police detectives and charged with murder. On August 19th at 1:00 pm, Thomas Lowrie made his initial appearance for the charge of murder at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. The identity of our victim is being withheld at this time until further DNA testing can be completed and next of kin can be appropriately notified.

On Sunday, August 18th, 2024, at 0823 hours, Waterville Police requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central Division to respond to 119 Cool Street in their city for the report of a potential suspicious death. The investigation is currently ongoing, and both Waterville PD and Maine State Police continue to work on the identification of the victim. The body will be sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy on Monday, August 19th. The OCME will determine the cause and manner of death. There is no threat to the public currently.

On August 17, 2024, State Police Houlton responded to a vehicle fire on Interstate 95 in Dyer Brook. Candyce Marsh, 43, of Fort Kent, was driving a 2024 Subaru Forester southbound and struck a deer. After pulling to the side of the roadway, Marsh and her child exited the vehicle. The impact from the crash caused an electrical component to spark and catch the vehicle on fire. In just a few minutes, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. Oakfield Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire, but the vehicle was burned beyond repair. Marsh sustained minor injuries and was treated and released by Paramedics at the scene. 

On August 16, 2024, at approximately 1500 hours, the State Police dispatch received a call about a box truck driving erratically northbound from mile 112. As troopers were moving to intercept the truck, multiple calls came in to report that the same truck had crashed into the median at mile 118 in Sidney.

Troopers believe the operator, Ashley Peters, 42, of Ellsworth, fell asleep, left the roadway in the box truck owned by Eastern Mold Remediation, and entered the median before striking a tree and rolling onto the passenger side.  Peters, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Maine General Hospital.      

Interstate 95 shut down to one lane northbound in the crash area while crews worked the scene until just after 6 PM.