Earl Bieler, 25, and Corinna Durkee, 43, appeared before Lincoln County Superior Court Justice Andrew Horton on Thursday, and entered pleas of “not guilty” for the murder of Waldoboro resident Rachel Grindal.
They have been accused of stabbing 27-year-old Rachel Grindal to death and attempting to kill 32-year-old Tracy Neild during an April 19 attack on Controversy Lane in Waldoboro.
Shackled and clad in Two Bridges Regional Jail-issued jumpsuits Bieler and Durkee stood separately before Justice Andrew Horton. Under direction of legal counsel, the pair acknowledged having had the opportunity to read their indictments and plead not guilty to all charges.
Durkee is being represented by Philip Cohen of Waldoboro while Bieler is being represented by William Avantaggio of Newcastle.
Justice Horton granted attorneys’ request for 60 days to continue to discover pretrial information. Horton said he would notify the parties of a possible trial date in August. Pre-trial motions will be heard before jury selection.
The Waldoboro couple was indicted on charges including assault, burglary and murder in connection with the April 19 attack in front of Neild’s rental home, which resulted in Grindal’s death and left Neild in critical condition.
According to previous reports, Neild identified her attackers by writing Bieler and Durkee’s names. She has been recovering from her injuries and is out of the hospital. Nobleboro farmer and landlord Wayne Brown, who leased his trailer to Neild, said she sent him a letter recently. She can whisper, he said, but recovery will take some time.
Bieler and Durkee together also face elevated aggravated assault and burglary with a firearm charge.
Bieler has been additionally charged with theft, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, receiving stolen property, forgery, and theft by deception.
They are both currently being held without bail. The state has requested a date for a harnish hearing for Durkee, while Bieler has exhausted his right to bail.
