Bonus episode!
This is a true crime, local history, and storytelling podcast. I write about crimes, I set the scene, connect story themes, I talk about things that happened here, in Massachusetts and New England. This episode is about gun violence, mental health, mass murder, a terrorized community, and trauma. Listen with care.
In episode 52, we go to Lewiston, Maine where a local man known to the community opened fire on two businesses in the largest mass casualty event in Maine’s history that left 18 dead, 13 injured and an entire region at a loss.
In the second part of this episode, I speak to Bernadette, host of the Murderfic podcast, who lives in the area of Southern Maine where the manhunt for the shooter was going on and ultimately where he was found. We talk about the crime, the impact on the close community and what we have come to learn about the man who committed the crimes. Murderific Podcast Governor Mills Launches “Healing Together” Online Resource to Help Support to Lewiston Victims and Families City of Lewiston to Open Community Resiliency Center CRC to Offer Services on Mon, Nov 13 City of Lewiston Families and Victims Fund Maine Community Foundation Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund A nightmare unfolded in the small town community of Lewiston, Maine, as a mass shooting claimed the lives of friends and neighbors. This episode takes us on an unnerving journey into the time leading up to the events of October 25, 2023 and the man who did it, who was known to authorities and on a downward spiral of mental health. With guest, Bernadette, host of Murderific true crime podcast and a resident of this area of Southern Maine, we navigate the shocking aftermath of this crime, the devastating ripple effect it has on the community, and the possible institutional missteps that may have contributed. Mass shootings, as catastrophic as they are, often shine a spotlight on the larger, hidden crisis of mental health. When the 18 shooting victims were identified by Maine State Police, there was not someone in the community around Lewiston who did not know one, some or all of them. Ronald G. Morin, 55 Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40 Joshua A. Seal, 36 Bryan MacFarlane, 41
Joseph Walker, 57
Arthur Fred Strout, 42
Maxx A. Hathaway, 35 Stephen M. Vozzella, 45
Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34
Michael R. Deslauriers II, 51
Jason Adam Walker, 51
Tricia C. Asselin, 53
William A. Young, 44 Aaron Young, 14 Robert E. Violette, 76 Lucille M. Violette, 73 William Frank Brackett, 48 Keith D. Macneir, 64
Ron Morin, 55 , born and raised in Lewiston, one of eight siblings. Ron graduated from Lewiston High School in 1986. He has been employed by Coca Cola since 1989.
Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40, of Bath. His love of cornhole, wrestling, and comic book heroes made him a colorful character to be around. He had a tremendous Superman tattoo. He worked as a Bath Iron Works pipe fitter.
Joshua A. Seal, 36, of Lisbon Fall, a dad of four, earned a degree in Linguistics with a concentration in ASL-English Interpreting, from the University of Southern Maine. Josh was the Director of Interpreting Services at Pine Tree Society in Scarborough and a Certified Deaf Interpreter. He interpreted for several press conferences, including the Covid pandemic briefings.
Bryan M. MacFarlane, 41, was a commercial truck driver and a member of the Deaf community. Bryan was playing in the cornhole tournament at the bar that night. Bryan holds the distinction of being the first deaf person in Vermont to get his commercial drivers license. He loved riding motorcycles, camping in his trailer, snowmobiling, fishing, spending time with his Deaf friends, and especially loved his dog named M&M.
Joe Walker, 57, of Auburn, was born and raised in Lewiston, Joe was the manager at Schemengees and the Station Grill Restaurant. He loved his job organizing events at Schemengees. He was president of the Central Maine Dart League. He also founded the Artic Blast Dart Tournament. He was trying to defend the people in his restaurant.
Arthur Fred Strout who his friends called “Artie, 42, of Lewiston, was killed as Schmemgees. He and his wife had a blended family of five kids, something he cherished. He loved to spend time with the kids, playing video games. Artie was a family-oriented person who loved playing pool and cooking Italian food.
Maxx A. Hathaway, 35, Was A Full-Time Stay at Home Dad To Two Daughters And His Wife Is Due To Have their third Little Girl in December. Maxx Is remembered as a Goofy, Down To Earth Person, who loved to joke around. He loved anime, gaming and playing pool.
Stephen M. Vozzella, 45, was a member of the Deaf community and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years. He was a competitive bowler, winning a number of tournaments and had a collection of trophies to show for his more than a decade in the game. Stephen and his wife Megan moved to Maine from Massachusetts six years ago, when he retired from bowling. He tried cornhole and soon he was an active member of the New England Deaf Cornhole league.
Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34, of Lewiston, started working as a manager of Just-in-Time Recreation in early 2023. As a U.S. Army veteran, he served in Iraq. After his military service, Tommy as he was known, returned to Maine to be near his extended family and to co-parent his daughter Caroline. He was also a brave soul who did try to stop the shooter at the bowling alley. It was who he was, everyone who knew him knew he was the one who tried to be the good guy in every scenario.
Michael R. Deslauriers II, 51, of Sabattus, Known by many as Mikey, worked as a network engineer at St. Mary’s Hospital/Covenant Health for 30 years and recently as a network engineer for W.G. Tech in Westbrook. He was the proud dad to two kids and an avid sports fan and loved games like corn hole, cribbage,and trivia. He could be found golfing, bowling, and watching the Bruins.
Jason Adam Walker, 51, of Sabattus, and best friend of Mike, was a member of the Sabattus Historical Society serving as the videographer and editor for oral histories. He was an avid bowler and a league member. He was always busy with vegetable gardening, creating educational YouTube videos, preserving seed and harvest, making homemade sausage with Mike, and baking sourdough bread. He never stopped learning.
Tricia C. Asselin, 53, was a busy woman with three jobs: full time at Modula Inc. in Lewiston and part time at the bowling alley and the Apple Valley Golf Course. She still made time for fun, and was out bowling that night. Tricia grew up in Auburn and Bowdoin, she is the mom to a son, Brandon Asselin, who she called her greatest achievement. Tricia grew up playing basketball, softball and baseball. She golfed and fished competitively. She enjoyed watching the Boston Bruins and Red Sox and playing trivia at sports bars.
William Young, 44 and Aaron Young, 14, of Winthrop, were at Just in time so Aaron, an avid bowler, could play in a youth bowling league. Bill was a dedicated dad to his kids. He was a master auto mechanic.
Robert Violette, 76, and Lucille, 73, Bob was retired and devoted himself to his volunteer job coaching the youth bowling league that was practicing Wednesday night. He was at Just In Time that night with his wife. Bob and Lucy Violette were always together. Bob drove her to work every day. Lucy would join him when he coached youth bowling on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They were married for 48 years and met in the offices of the Lewiston School Department. Lucy worked as a secretary there, and Bob had come in to do some maintenance work.
William Brackett, 48, Billy as his friends called him, and dad to a young daughter, was one of four people from Maine’s tight-knit Deaf community who died that night. He was an avid darts and cornhole player and was at Schemengees, as he often was, for a cornhole tournament.
Keith D. Macneir, 64, was only visiting Maine at the time, up from south Florida, was celebrating his birthday by visiting his son in Maine and was at the bar waiting to meet up with him. Keith Macneir had worked for the Virgin Islands National Park, most recently as the chief of maintenance.
Sources
People Magazine - Maine Residents Describe 'Eerie' Feeling with Mass Shooting Suspect at Large: 'None of Us Feel Safe' Bangor Daily News - Lewiston Reporting