Maine

Deaths of Estranged Husband and Wife Believed to Be Murder-Suicide

Police say a man was found dead outside a home in Gardiner, while a woman who was found inside the home later died at the hospital

Police in Maine are investigating the deaths of an estranged husband and wife from Livermore Falls as a murder-suicide.

State and local police responded around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to a report of gunshots at 16 Fairview St. in Gardiner, according to Maine State Police.

At the scene, police say they found 48-year-old Kenneth Bryant dead in a pickup truck parked in the driveway. Autumn Bryant, 44, was found shot in the garage. She was taken to MaineGeneral Hospital in Augusta, where she died from her injuries.

State police say investigators believe Kenneth shot Autumn and turned the gun on himself.

Police said divorce proceedings were underway for the couple, who had been estranged since November.

The deaths took place at Autumn's brother's house, where she had been staying.

Police added that there was a connection between the victim and a fire that destroyed a home on Messalonskee Lake in Sidney Tuesday morning. Later Tuesday, police explained that the house was owned by Lawrence Gilman, the husband of Autumn's mother.

The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire, according to police, who said that the Gilmans live in Florida during the winter. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Autopsies will be conducted Wednesday at the Maine Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta.

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