Arline Lawless, the Waldoboro woman charged with the shooting death of her former boyfriend, 34-year-old Norman Benner of Waldoboro, changed her plea to guilty, when she appeared in Knox County Superior Court, June 26. She had previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, July 26 at 9 a.m. in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset.
Lawless, 25, told Maine State Police detectives, following the incident in July 2012, she shot Benner in his sleep after he told her he planned to leave her. Lawless suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face.
Benner and Lawless lived together, rent-free, on the ground floor of the house at 2177 Friendship Rd. in Waldoboro where the shooting took place. The house was owned by Jeremy McPhee, who also lived at the single-family home.
Benner’s body was discovered in his bed by his sister, Kimberly Benner and reported in a 9-1-1 call to Lincoln County Communications Center.
Waldoboro Police Officer Jeffrey Fuller responded to the report, finding Benner deceased and Lawless “incoherent and injured next to Norman Benner,” according to his affidavit.
Lawless is in custody at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
