Lewiston Man Charged with Murder After a Man Was Left at Hospital

A Lewiston man is charged with murder after another man, who was dropped off at the hospital, succumbed to unspecified injuries.

Have Police Identified the Deceased?

Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says it was shortly after 7:30 Friday night when an adult male was dropped off at the Emergency Department of St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston. The man, who has been identified at Anthony Ayotte, 40, of Lewiston, was treated but would later succumb to his injuries. Officials have not commented on the nature of those injuries.

Who is the Suspect?

An investigation into the death was launched by Detectives with the Maine State and Lewiston Police Department. That investigation led to officials getting an arrest warrant for Jerry Thibodeau, 36, of Lewiston. Shortly after 5:00 Saturday evening, Lewiston Police found Thibodeau at a home on Sabattus Street, where he refused to surrender to police.

The Maine State Police Tactical Team responded and, after about five hours, Thibodeau was finally taken into custody without incident and charged with murder. He's believed to have dropped Ayotte off at the hospital Friday night and then left the facility. The two men know each other, although police have not commented on the nature of that connection.

Do Police Know How the Victim Died?

Thibodeau was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail and is expected to make his initial court appearance on Monday. Ayotte's body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of his death.

We'll update this story as more details become available.