A Maine man is behind bars, accused of murdering his next-door neighbor with a machete, and burying his body under a pile of rotting deer carcasses. According to court documents, the violence may have stemmed from a dispute over a stolen six-pack of beer.
Bruce Akers, 57, of Limington, Maine entered a not guilty plea in York County Superior Court Tuesday. Akers is accused of killing 55-year-old Douglas Flint in June.
In a police affidavit, investigators say Flint's body was found nearly decapitated on Akers' property, and a bloody machete was found in Akers' home.
Police say the day before the murder, Akers called the Sheriff's Department to report that he thought Flint had stolen a six-pack of beer from him. Flint's family told investigators that the two neighbors had several disputes in the past.
Investigators say when Akers was questioned, he told them Flint "wouldn't leave me alone," and admitted that Flint was no longer alive.
He allegedly told detectives, "I actually would have called you guys right away but I wanted a few hours of freedom," and later told police where to find Flint's body.
Akers' attorney said this kind of violence is out of character for his client.
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"He's got relatively no criminal record, and he was in the military," said attorney Paul Aranson. "If you met him, he's very personable. So this is a highly unusual circumstance he has found himself in."
Akers is being held without bail. His next court date is November 18.
