A Lincoln County Grand Jury has indicted Arline Lawless, 25, on a charge of intentional or knowing murder in the July 21 shooting of Norman Benner, 34.
In related action, Justice Jeffrey Hjelm granted a motion by Assistant Attorney General Debra Cashman, ordering Lawless to undergo examination by the state forensic service in an attempt to determine Lawless’ mental condition at the time of the alleged crime.
According to an affidavit, filed by Maine State Police Det. Abbe Chabot in support of the Aug. 7 arrest warrant, Lawless, 25, allegedly told police in two separate interviews she shot Benner, while Benner was sleeping, at a home they shared at 2177 Friendship Rd., in Waldoboro.
Lawless was arrested Aug. 15 as she was being discharged from the Spring Harbor treatment center in Westbrook. According to its website, Spring Harbor is a provider of inpatient services for individuals who experience acute mental illness or dual disorders issues.
According to the police affidavit, Benner’s body was discovered in his bed by his sister, Kimberly Benner July 23, and reported in a 911 call to Lincoln County Communications Center.
Responding to the report, Waldoboro Police Officer Jeffrey Fuller found Benner deceased and Lawless “incoherent and injured next to him,” according to the affidavit.
Lawless was subsequently transported to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta for treatment of a gunshot wound to the face.
The indictment identifies the alleged murder weapon as a .22 caliber revolver.
According to an affidavit, filed by Maine State Police Det. Abbe Chabot in support of the Aug. 7 arrest warrant, Lawless allegedly told Maine State Police detectives she shot Norman Benner in his sleep after he told her he planned to leave her.
Chabot and Det. Corey Pike were told the same story during separate interviews with Lawless.
According to the affidavit, during a July 23 interview at Maine Medical Center, Lawless told Pike she shot Benner one time in the back of the head because he was going to leave her.
Chabot wrote in the affidavit that Lawless told Pike she shot herself five times, after shooting Benner.
Chabot’s affidavit states that Lawless repeated that narrative when Chabot interviewed her the following day.
Benner and Lawless lived together, rent-free, on the ground floor of the house where the shooting took place. The house is owned by a third party, who also lives at the single-family home.
