Belfast man arrested on attempted murder charge
11/25/09 | 39 comments
crime

Belfast man arrested on attempted murder charge


By Walter Griffin
BDN Staff
Waldo County Jail
Stanley L. Ward Image courtesy of the Waldo County Jail.

BELFAST, Maine — Bail was set at $500,000 for a local man who allegedly abducted an elderly city woman Tuesday, robbed her, slit her throat and left her for dead at a remote pond in Knox.

Stanley Ward, 22, of Patterson Hill, made his initial appearance in Belfast District Court on Wednesday on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery. Judge Joseph Field set Ward’s bail at $500,000 cash or $1 million in property during a video hearing conducted from Rockland District Court.

The 72-year-old victim managed to crawl several hundred yards from the pond to a paved road where a passer-by noticed her and called for an ambulance.

The woman initially was treated at Waldo County General Hospital and then transferred by LifeFlight to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. She is expected to survive her injuries, Waldo County Deputy District Attorney Eric Walker said.

“We have heard that she is doing well in Bangor and will hopefully make a full recovery,” he said.

Walker described the attack as vicious and premeditated. He said Ward went to the victim’s house armed with a knife and carrying duct tape.

“Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in this,” Walker said. “This appears to be premeditated. He had been planning it for two days.”

According to an affidavit submitted by Belfast Detective Michael McFadden, Ward knew the victim and went to her Bell Street home at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday looking for money.

McFadden said he interviewed the woman while she was being tended to by Dr. John Gage at the emergency room in Belfast on Tuesday night. He noted that the woman’s face was covered with blood and that she had two knife gashes to the neck.

McFadden said the victim told him that Ward “seemed upset” when she let him in the house and told her that his father, who mowed her lawn, had a stroke recently and that he had been fired from two jobs.

At some point in the discussion Ward reportedly became angry, dragged the woman into her bathroom, pushed her to the floor, held the knife to her throat and demanded money.

When the woman gave Ward all her money, he allegedly bound her hands with tape, dragged her outside and forced her into her car. Ward got in the car and drove off, only to stop and return to the house where he ordered the woman to write a check for $300 because she failed to give him enough cash.

Ward then reportedly loaded the woman back into the car and drove 10 miles from Belfast to a camper trailer along a dirt lane on Dutton Pond off Route 137 in Knox.

Once inside the camper, Ward threw the woman to the floor and cut her throat, she said. Dr. Gage told McFadden that she told him she heard Ward say, “Yeah, you’re dead,” after cutting her throat.

McFadden said the woman told him that while Ward was cutting her he kept talking about how badly people had “treated him lately.” Ward then cut the tape from the victim’s wrists and left. Ward took the victim’s car back to Bell Street, parked it and drove off in his pickup truck.

The woman told McFadden she passed out after having her throat slashed and woke up some time later. However, when she tried to stand, she lost consciousness again, she said. She finally awoke, then pulled herself from the trailer and began crawling down the dirt camp road.

At one point she heard a vehicle coming and rolled off the road into a ditch filled with water. She noticed that the vehicle was a truck that resembled Ward’s. She hid in the ditch and watched the truck turn into the driveway and saw a man get out and step inside the camper. A short time later the man got back in his truck and drove off.

The woman continued crawling down the road until she reached Route 137 and was discovered. Police were notified at 8:50 p.m. She left behind a trail of blood, McFadden said.

“She is one very tough lady,” McFadden said Wednesday outside the court.

Based on the victim’s account, police obtained search and arrest warrants before surrounding Ward’s home and placing him under arrest at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Walker said Ward had cooperated with Belfast, Waldo County and Maine State Police detectives after his arrest. Ward detailed what he had done and showed detectives where he disposed of the knife in the pond.

Each of the charges are Class A felonies and carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and fines of $20,000, Walker said.

Ward was represented by Searsport attorney Peter Mason during his initial appearance. Mason told the judge that Ward advised him he would seek a court-appointed attorney to represent him in the future.

Should he make bail, Judge Field ordered Ward to notify the district attorney 48 hours in advance in order to validate his real estate surety. If bailed, he must also have no contact with the victim, not go near her home, not possess any weapons or consume alcohol or drugs, report to police daily and observe a 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew. In the meantime, Ward is being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

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Comments
39 comments on this item
On 11/25/09 at 2:20 PM, Hampden1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

22 year old?? WTF! Dude you are a piece of crap!!!

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On 11/25/09 at 3:10 PM, DaddyBiggs wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Beating an old woman. How much lower can you go?

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On 11/25/09 at 3:24 PM, Noblamegaming wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

DaddyBiggs: Believe me, tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to this story. Bone-chilling, in fact. This woman is as elegant as the perp is vermin.

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On 11/25/09 at 6:13 PM, gregdebeck wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

should have read " just saw the news"

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On 11/25/09 at 6:41 PM, WilliamDS wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's hard to believe there are such dangerous young people out there. This guy should never see the light of day again. I need to rethink my personal safety plan as I get older. Scary.

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On 11/25/09 at 6:57 PM, untrimmedBver wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

In twenty five years, he'll be released and do it again. I'll think to myself, "Wow, has it been 25 years already??? That was quick!!!"

Maybe there will be an alternate, happy ending....."Stanley Ward, 47, recently released after serving twenty five years for kidnapping and attempted murder, shot dead by WilliamDS, 92 after breaking into his home..."

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On 11/25/09 at 7:05 PM, sweetpea wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yup...the dregs!

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On 11/25/09 at 7:25 PM, maineworkr wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I cant imagine. What do you get from terrorizing and severely assaulting a 72 YO woman? I hope he gets a huge, mean, nasty cell mate with nothing to lose in prison.

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On 11/25/09 at 8:39 PM, knowitall wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's to bad that when this guy gets what he deserves in prison it will cost a C.O. their job.

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On 11/25/09 at 8:40 PM, CocoaNut wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

wow! what strength and will to live that 72-year-old woman had! thank god she is alive! beating the elderly is almost as as bad as beating a child! what a scummaggot!

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On 11/25/09 at 9:22 PM, waldocountyguy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

DIRTBAG!!!! Hope she has a full and speedy recovery!! As for him, jail is the best place for him, however I would love to see some street justice served on him, lowlife. Ya times are tuff for alot of people, yet you don't see them almost kiling an elderly woman for money!! Can't even begin to tell you how I feel about this waste of air!!

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On 11/25/09 at 9:46 PM, mainegirl20 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Absolute scum of the earth. What an amazing woman to survive something like that!

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On 11/25/09 at 10:06 PM, untrimmedBver wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's obvious he's no good. Only villians part their hair down the middle.

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On 11/26/09 at 3:00 AM, Farmer101 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Instead of building new jails bring back the electric chair for all the scum. Eye for an eye

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On 11/26/09 at 3:55 AM, clamchowdah wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Definately a amazing woman to survive such a vicious attack. My thoughts and prayers for this brave lady. She must have been terrified once again laying in a cold wet ditch when he returned to the camper praying she wouldn't be found by him.

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On 11/26/09 at 6:08 AM, Charette wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

One brave woman.

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On 11/26/09 at 6:28 AM, Hunter334 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

to bad he didn't break into the cummings home she knows how to take care of a male perp.

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On 11/26/09 at 7:13 AM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

One Proud Lady

And bubba Stanley

They gonna make a girl out of Ya

And I only wish I could Watch<<

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On 11/26/09 at 7:43 AM, confusedmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

listened to it unfold on scanner....thank god for her strength, and the police for acting so quickly..she is in our thoughts, he should rot in hell!!

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On 11/26/09 at 8:51 AM, anthoine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

what a strong willed woman, amazing what the will to live can do. as for that fat a$$ loser who looks like he has not showered in awhile, bubba will have you clean up and then take care of you. being big does not make a person tough, especailly a loser like this punk.

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On 11/26/09 at 8:56 AM, AlmostAmainAH wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I feel so sad for this woman, the fear she must have been in. My heart goes out to you Patricia.

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On 11/26/09 at 9:23 AM, eastsidestable wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

god bless you lady!

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On 11/26/09 at 9:27 AM, swift1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Fry him..... I personally am not interested in feeding and clothing a man like this through the prison system for the next ten years let alone twenty five..premeditated, violent assault on a elderly woman ....does it get any worse? Justice should be Swift...fry like bacon...

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On 11/26/09 at 9:45 AM, untrimmedBver wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Electraglide wrote; "They gonna make a girl out of Ya And I only wish I could Watch<<"

That explains a lot about you.

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On 11/26/09 at 10:04 AM, Beelzebubba wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Heinous crime...a vile act, indeed.

However, he is about to enter Maine's namby-pamby justice system, where liberal judges - appointed by liberals - will slap him on the wrist and send him to jail for 10 years. He'll be out in 8, to make room for a pot grower sentenced to life.

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On 11/26/09 at 10:24 AM, sapereaude wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hemp rope and a sturdy oak.

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On 11/26/09 at 11:38 AM, jimdingo wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

knowitall,

Maybe someone can look the other way. Que Sera, Sera .

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On 11/26/09 at 12:42 PM, Papa1Fairfield wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

To bad we don't have te death penitaly , this pice off trash neds to die.

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On 11/26/09 at 4:44 PM, mainebeefman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Save the State some money ACE HIM!

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On 11/26/09 at 4:48 PM, mainebeefman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Save the State some money ACE HIM!

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On 11/26/09 at 6:48 PM, Scintillate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Prime example of a "last winner"

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On 11/27/09 at 6:47 AM, kmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This brave, strong woman is going to need help to deal with the aftermath of what this low life did to her. She will never feel safe again in her own home. If it were me, I'd opt for a course in handgun handling and a great big German Shepard dog so I could sleep at night.

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On 11/27/09 at 11:40 AM, brooks10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maybe our seniors should start packing pieces? then they can shoot them before it goes any further...this is really disgusting to hear about and read.....If this piece of **it every did this to my parents, he wouldn't leave the home alive, the coroner would carry him out in a bag with a knife in his chest, and a bullet in his head, and yes on my behalf, IT WOULD BE PREMEDITATED.......A-HOLE....ROT IN JAIL YOU PIECE OF CRAP....PLEASE CALL ME FOR JURY DUTY ON THIS ONE.........:~) also, if for some reason this jerk makes bail, the police need to be at this persons residence 24 hours a day, remember, they always come back to the scene of the crime, that's how stupid they are...excuse me, I need to go vomit as I am ill from this story.

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On 11/27/09 at 2:49 PM, edokfouru wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

OMG this guy looks like a red haired domestic terrorist to me . He is a Big coward from the bottom of the gene pools sludge. He needs to be tried and if guilty convicted. These types of crimes are committed by inferior animals a fireing squad would help us keep the cost down. Lord have mercy strike the guilty one dead.

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On 11/27/09 at 6:28 PM, momof1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

creep, to bad she hadn't chased him off with a gun, like the other lady from princeton, 22, he look's like hes about 52.

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On 11/27/09 at 7:52 PM, cbpo2858 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

for once i couldnt agree more with all of these comments. He gets 20 years for this woman being as strong as she is. If this woman was a ordinary person and not a Extraordinary, person she would be dead and he would get life. He should not be rewarded a lower prison sentance on this womans strength. Justice is never served in these cases.

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On 11/28/09 at 5:46 AM, brooks10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

cbpo2858....great comments there, I agree.....how about the electric chair for him? We each as citizens can take turns flipping the switch?? sound like a plan........

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On 11/28/09 at 12:11 PM, KikiEm wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

McFadden said the woman told him that while Ward was cutting her he kept talking about how badly people had “treated him lately. So Ward thinks people have been treating him bad lately? Just ask his vicitm how badly one person in particular can treat her? More to come...stay tuned...for the treatment he will be experiencing in the future. As long as he is held without bail.....he will receive adequate treatment...........but when tried and convicted of his barbarism and the Big House is the verdict.....well need I say more about life in the Big House......killing the elderly and children doesn't go over well....even in the State Pen.

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On 11/28/09 at 12:15 PM, countryliving wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So sorry this lady had to suffer at the hands of a monster. I am so happy she is safe now. Ward I hope you will rot away in prision.

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