The Waldoboro woman arrested Aug. 15 for the murder of her former boyfriend allegedly told Maine State Police detectives she shot Norman Benner in his sleep last month, after he told her he planned to leave her.
Arline Lawless (also known as Seavey) made her first court appearance in Lincoln County Superior Court Aug. 17 at 12:30 p.m.
Lawless is charged with shooting Benner, 34, of Waldoboro at the home the couple shared at 2177 Friendship Rd., in Waldoboro.
Seavey suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face and has been treated for that injury since July 23, when Benner’s body was discovered by his relatives inside the home.
According to an affidavit, filed by Maine State Police Det. Abbe Chabot in support of the Aug. 7 arrest warrant, 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 Jeremy McPhee, who also lives at the single-family home.
Benner’s body was discovered in his bed by his sister, Kimberly Benner 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.
As Fuller was leaving the dwelling, he observed McPhee walking toward the residence. McPhee was questioned by Maine State Police Det. Adam Kelley and told the detective that he last heard snoring coming from Benner and Lawless’ bedroom at approximately 7:30 p.m., July 21, the affidavit said.
The 25-year-old Lawless was transported for medical treatment and arrested 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 affidavit, Kimberly Benner and her mother, Dawn Benner, told Maine State Police Det. Ryan Brockway Lawless had sent Norman Benner a series of text messages, saying she was afraid of McPhee “because he was acting oddly.”
The affidavit states the Benner family thought Lawless did this in an attempt to get Norman Benner to come to the house at 2177 Friendship Rd. to see her.
Dawn and Kimberly Benner told Brockway that Norman Benner had planned to tell Lawless on July 21 that he was leaving her, and that he planned to return to his family’s home after that conversation.
Lawless was transported to the Cumberland County Jail in Portland following her arrest.
This story will be updated on the LCN web page and in the upcoming print edition of The Lincoln County News.
