News Release

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at approximately 2:43 AM, Troopers responded to a fuel truck rollover that occurred on I-295 northbound at mile marker 26 in Brunswick.

A 2020 Kenworth fuel truck, owned by Irving Oil Company and loaded with kerosene, was being operated by 28-year-old Nicholas Garcia of Cape Elizabeth when it left the roadway to the right and overturned. Garcia was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle remains at the scene, and due to a fuel leak, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been notified and is responding.

Copp Motors is on scene working to upright the vehicle. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The northbound travel lane is currently closed and will remain so until the scene is cleared. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at approximately 9:25 AM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Central responded to a residence on River Road in Norridgewock at the request of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office had received a 911 call reporting a shooting at the home.

Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male, identified as 38-year-old Christopher Nickerson, who had been staying at the residence. Nickerson’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be conducted.

Following an initial investigation, 59-year-old Daniel Markey, who resides at the home, was arrested and charged with murder. He was transported to the Somerset County Jail and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today at 1:00 PM.

On Sunday, February 23, 2025, at approximately 4:00 PM, Troopers responded to a 911 call from a female reporting a domestic violence situation. Troopers arrived at the residence on West Old Main Rd in Lowell and were able to assist the victim to safety. Her husband, 55-year-old Andrew York of Lowell, remained inside the residence and refused to come out.

Officers maintained a presence at the scene while attempting to establish contact with York. On Monday, February 24, 2025, at approximately 2:30 PM, the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team arrived to assist. By 4:30 PM, negotiators successfully secured York’s surrender. York was arrested without incident and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Once released he will be transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he will be charged with domestic violence-related offenses. No injuries were reported. The investigation remains ongoing.

On Friday, February 21, 2025, at 12:10 AM, Troopers from Troop G responded to mile marker 2 on I-95 southbound in Kittery for a single vehicle rollover.

Troopers arrived on scene and located a gold Buick sedan on its roof blocking the left and middle lanes. Troopers observed the driver, identified as 48-year-old Kristopher Robidas-Adams of Berwick trapped inside the vehicle. Troopers, along with Kittery Police, attempted to extricate Robidas-Adams from the vehicle but were unsuccessful due to the severity of the damage.

Kittery Fire/EMS along with York Fire/EMS provided medical aid and extricated Robidas-Adams from the vehicle. He was transported to Portsmouth hospital where he listed in critical condition. The Turnpike was fully closed southbound from exit 7 for approximately 2 hours. The crash remains under investigation.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at approximately 10:02 AM, the Maine State Police and Winthrop Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a home on Giles Road in Readfield. Upon arrival, Troopers discovered a deceased adult female outside the house.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Margaux Whittemore of Belfast. Responding officers found 67-year-old Dorothy Whittemore, the homeowner suffering from injuries inside the residence. She was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where she was listed in critical condition. Her condition has since been upgraded.

The suspect, 34-year-old Samuel Whittemore of Belfast fled the scene and was taken into custody by a Trooper a short distance away. He was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for an evaluation and has since been transported to the Kennebec County Jail where he has been charged with Murder. Margaux and Samuel Whittemore were married and lived in Belfast. At the time of the incident, they were visiting Samuel’s parent’s home on Giles Road in Readfield. Dorothy Whittemore is Samuel’s mother. His father was not inside the house at the time but arrived shortly after the incident occurred.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed Thursday morning, February 20, 2025. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. Samuel Whittemore is expected to make his initial appearance in court tomorrow.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at approximately 10:02 AM, the Maine State Police and Winthrop Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a home on Giles Road in Readfield. Upon arrival, Troopers discovered a deceased adult female outside the home. They discovered an injured adult female inside the residence. She was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where she is listed in critical condition.

The suspect, an adult male fled the scene and was taken into custody by a Trooper a short distance away. He was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for evaluation. The three individuals were related.

The deceased female will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. Detectives and Evidence Response Technicians with Major Crimes Unit Central are on scene and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. There is no danger to the public. 

Names are being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification. Additional information will be released as appropriate.

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, at approximately 6:05 AM, Maine State Police Troop G responded to a fatal motor vehicle crash at mile marker 14 southbound on I-95 in Ogunquit.

The initial investigation indicates a tractor trailer unit owned by EW Logistics of Hauppage, NY and operated by 35-year-old XIAOYING MA of New York City, NY was traveling northbound when he lost control and crashed through the median guardrail into two vehicles traveling southbound. The first vehicle was a Cadillac sedan operated by 64-year-old Linda Huelsman of Kennebunk who died on scene from her injuries. The second vehicle struck was a Mack Box truck owned by EAN Holdings of Tulsa, OK and operated 55-year-old Brian Ellis of Kittery.

Mr. Ellis was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital but later died from his injuries. The driver of the tractor trailer was transported to York Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Turnpike was shut down southbound at Exit 14 in Wells. Two lanes have since re-opened. Weather conditions are believed to be a factor in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing and will be submitted to the York County District Attorney’s Office for review of any criminal charges. Assisting the Maine State Police was the Ogunquit and Wells Fire Departments, Maine DEP, Maine Turnpike Maintenance and National Wrecker.

The Maine State Police will hold a funeral service to honor K9 Preacher, who was killed in the line of duty, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM at The Point, 345 Clarks Pond Parkway, South Portland.

Members of the media are invited to attend. Media wishing to be inside for the service must be in place no later than 10:15 AM.

For those looking to cover the procession, it will begin at approximately 10:15 AM from Crosby Farm on the Maine Turnpike in South Portland. The route is as follows:

•Southbound on Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike)

•Exit 45, left onto Route 703

•Exit J, right onto Main Mall Road

•Right onto Philbrook Avenue

•Right onto John Roberts Road

•Left onto Clarks Pond Parkway, entering The Point

During the procession K9 handlers and their partners will be lined up along John Roberts Road in tribute to Preacher.

Media Parking

Media should park in the overflow parking lot at Home Depot, located across the street from The Point.

Livestream Information

For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be livestreamed. The link will become active five minutes before the ceremony begins.

https://www.thepoint.community/live/

Honoring K9 Preacher

K9 Preacher gave his life protecting his fellow officers and the citizens of Maine. More than one hundred law enforcement officers from Maine and across New England are expected to gather to honor his service and sacrifice and pay their respects to handler, Sgt. Jonathan Russell, the Maine State Police K9 Unit, and the Tactical Team.

On Friday, February 7, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a home on Walnut Drive in Norridgewock.  Upon arrival, Deputies discovered a deceased male and another male with severe head injuries inside the residence.

Area police departments were notified to be on alert for 38-year-old Kendall Purnell of Norridgewock who was seen driving the homeowner’s vehicle. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central responded and began investigating. Around 1:00 AM on Saturday, February 8, 2025, Officers with the Waterville Police Department observed the vehicle at Irving’s Gas Station on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville. Officers identified Kendall Purnell as the driver. Purnell was brought to the Waterville Police Department and questioned by Detectives.

Purnell was later arrested for Murder and taken to the Somerset County Jail. The deceased male was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be conducted. The injured male was transported to Reddington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan and later transported via LifeFlight to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he is currently listed in critical condition.

Names of the victims are not being released at this time. Additional information will be released as the investigation progresses.

On Saturday, February 8, 2025, at approximately 7:15 am, Troopers responded to a single vehicle, single occupant crash on Interstate 95 northbound at mile marker 155 in Palmyra. Initial investigation indicates that 20-year-old Tatiana Medeiros of East Providence, Rhode Island, was in the left-hand lane when her 2008 Toyota Matrix left the roadway and crashed into the median. Medeiros was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.