News Release

On Monday, October 13, 2025, at approximately 6:12 AM, Troopers responded to the area of 389 Kelly Road in Stacyville for an ATV crash on a public way. The sole occupant of the ATV was 70-year-old Joyce Cummings of Stacyville. 

The preliminary investigation shows the ATV was traveling on the road when items began to fall off the back of the ATV. The ATV appeared to turn and crash. Cummings was thrown from the ATV. She was not wearing a helmet. She sustained severe injuries and was transported by LifeFlight to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation.

On Sunday, October 12, 2025, at approximately 9:20 AM, a Maine Game Warden came across a three-vehicle collision on Northfield Road (Route 192) in Northfield. The Warden reported the incident to the Bangor Regional Communications Center to coordinate medical aid and emergency response.  

The preliminary investigation indicates a 16-year-old female from Northfield was operating a Honda Accord traveling northbound on Route 192 and was in the process of making a left turn into her driveway. At the same time, 50-year-old Perin Yates of East Machias was driving a black GMC pickup truck traveling southbound on Route 192. The two vehicles subsequently collided while the Honda was positioned in the southbound lane.

Following the initial collision, the Honda spun out and struck a GMC pickup truck operated by 43-year-old Aaron Getchell of Whitneyville who was following behind. Getchell was not injured. Both Yates and the 16-year-old driver sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital. The 16-year-old driver is in critical condition but is expected to survive.

The Maine Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol and Washington County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency agencies assisted at the scene.  The crash was reconstructed by Maine State Police. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

On Sunday, October 12, 2025, at approximately 8:49 AM, the Washington Junction Road was temporarily shut down due to a personal injury crash involving two vehicles at the intersection of Poplar Lane and Washington Junction Road in Hancock.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a Kia, operated by 35-year-old Katrina Springer of Ellsworth took a left hand turn from Poplar Lane onto the Washington Junction Road and crashed into a Jeep, operated by 43-year-old Amy Richards of Ellsworth, traveling on the Washington Junction Road towards Ellsworth. Springer was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The 4 passengers in the Kia were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Richards was charged with Operating under the Influence and Operating after Revocation. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Hancock Fire Department, Sullivan Fire Department and DC Towing assisted on scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at approximately 7:00 PM, Maine State Police Major Crimes South Detectives arrested 36-year-old Christopher Knapp of Biddeford on an arrest warrant for the charge of Manslaughter.

The arrest stems from over a yearlong investigation into the death of a 5-week-old boy on June 20, 2024. On June 21, 2024, an autopsy was conducted at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta and the manner of death was ruled homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time.

On October 7, 2025, the York County Grand Jury indicted Christopher Knapp charging him with Manslaughter. Knapp was transported to the York County Jail, was arraigned on October 9, 2025, and entered a “not guilty” plea. The Defendant is he is being held at the York County Jail in lieu of a $175,000 cash bail.

On Friday October 3, 2025, at approximately 6:50 PM, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to 715 River Road in the town of Standish for a disturbance. Upon arrival deputies located a male deceased inside the residence. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South. The deceased male was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy. The deceased has been identified as 49-year-old Matthew Hamilton of Cumberland County. The cause and manner of death are not being released at this time. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death is ongoing.  All persons involved in the incident have been identified and there is no threat to the public. More information will be released when it becomes available.

*Cumberland County is listed in place of a specific town of residence because the victim had recently lived in more than one community within the county.

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, the Maine State Police, assisting the Clinton Police Department with a missing person investigation, discovered human remains in a field off Route 100 in Clinton.

The remains have been transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for identification and to determine the cause and manner of death. The investigation is ongoing, and no other information is being released at this time.

Maine State Police are investigating the death of a 22-month-old child occurring in Thomaston. On May 29, 2024, at approximately 7:26 PM., Thomaston Police and Rescue responded to the Walmart in Thomaston for a report of a child not breathing. The child was transported to Pen Bay Medical Center, where the child was pronounced dead.  Thomaston Police contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, who responded to investigate, which is protocol in all child deaths in Maine. An autopsy will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death. The investigation into the death continues.

On May 28^th, at approximately 1910 Hours, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department received several 911 calls reporting a motor vehicle crash in the area of 106-109 Auburn Road in Peru. Callers reported a truck stopped next to a car and fired a gun into the car. 

First responders arrived and observed a blue Hyundai on the side of the road with a deceased female in the driver’s seat. The female was later identified as Dale Gaudreau 02/16/65.

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Department requested the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South to assist with the investigation. 

Investigator’s learned David Gaudreau 04/13/64, called several family members and advised he shot his wife. 

At approximately 2334 Hours, David Gaudreau surrendered himself to the Maine State Police and the Oxford County Sheriff’s department. David Gaudreau was transported to the Oxford County Jail and charged with Murder. 

On May 28, 2024, at 3:05 PM, troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash along the northbound median of I-295 near Tukey’s Bridge in Portland. The operator of an SUV told troopers she fell asleep before striking the median concrete barrier, and the vehicle came to rest, blocking the passing lane. The female operator sustained minor injuries and was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland by Portland Fire and Rescue. The crash slowed northbound traffic for approximately 45 minutes until the operator was transported and the vehicle towed.  

On May 18, 2024, at approximately 2:08 PM, the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1724 Hallowell Road in Litchfield at the request of a family member. Upon their arrival, 90-year-old Gerald Marin was found deceased in his residence. Deputies contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, who responded and began investigating the circumstances of the death. Maine State Police detectives and evidence technicians worked through the weekend, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Sunday, May 19, 2024, ruling the death a homicide. On May 22, 2024, Major Crimes detectives arrested 55-year-old Shari Allimah of Lewiston, charging her with Murder. Allimah was being held at the Androscoggin County Jail on unrelated charges.