Maine State Fire Marshal

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, at approximately 5:13 am Limington, Standish, and Hollis Fire Departments responded to a house fire at 259 Hardscrabble Road in Limington. When firefighters made entry into the home they discovered the deceased bodies of an adult male and female. 

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and Maine State Police’s Major Crimes Unit South were called in to investigate the suspicious deaths. Evidence Response Technicians continue to process the scene at this hour.

Shortly after the discovery, Maine State Police located 21 year Matthew Cote who they believe lived in the house. He was driving in Limington when a State Police Trooper spotted his car.

Cote was interviewed and arrested this afternoon. He has been charged with two counts of murder and was taken to the York County Jail.

At this time Maine State Police cannot identify the victims or confirm why their deaths are suspicious until after the autopsy, which will take place Friday at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta.
Hardscrabble Rd continues to be shut down and is expected to be for the next several hours while Major Crimes and the Fire Marshal’s Office investigate the scene.

Cote is expected to make his first court appearance at 2:30pm Friday via Zoom through York County Superior Court.

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Thursday, June 17, 2021 at approximately 5:13am a man was driving down Hardscrabble Rd in Limington when he noticed a fire at a home at 259 Hardscrabble Road.

A retired firefighter, he called 911 and then tried to make entry into the house but he was not able to. The Limington, Standish and Hollis Fire Departments responded and extinguished the fire. When firefighters made entry into the home they discovered the deceased bodies of an adult male and female.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and Maine State Police’s Major Crimes Unit South were called in to investigate. 

The York County Sheriff’s Office is assisting.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday at the Chief Office of the Medical Examiner.

Hardscrabble Road is shut down and is expected to be for most of the day while investigators and evidence response technicians investigate the scene.
 

Charles “Chip” Townsend, 32, of Robbinston, has been arrested for Arson and Depraved Indifference Murder following the investigation into the fire that claimed the life of 66-year-old Wayne Morrill. On October 7, 2020, the State Fire Marshall’s Office was called to investigate a fire at Wayne Morrill’s residence located at 88 Ridge Road in Robbinston. Morrill was located in the home and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Morrill died as a result of smoke inhalation. The State Fire Marshall’s Office contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North to help investigate Morrill’s death. With the assistance of Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Calais Police, and Washington County Sheriff's Office, the investigation determined that Townsend set the fire that caused Wayne Morrill’s death. Townsend was arrested and has been transported to the Washington County Jail where he will await his initial appearance.