OSSIPEE, N.H. — A man who pleaded guilty to murder in the disappearance and death last year of a Maine woman whose toddler daughter was found abandoned in her car was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison.
Anthony Papile, 29, said his actions “were atrocious.”
“I can’t tell you how truly sorry I am for what I’ve done,” Papile said in Carroll County court. “I stand here a brokenhearted and sorry man. I’m going to live with the pain and the shame of being the monster in their lives. I don’t ask forgiveness because I don’t deserve it.”
Papile, of Ossipee, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Krista Dittmeyer of Portland, Maine. Her body was found in Cranmore Mountain ski area’s snowmaking pond in Conway, about 50 miles northwest of her hometown. The cause of her death was prolonged cold-water submersion.
Dittmeyer’s car was found idling in the ski area’s parking lot the morning of her disappearance with her 14-month-old daughter unharmed inside. Prosecutor Jane Young said Thursday that Papile left the car’s heat on and the lights flashing in the hopes that someone would find the girl.
Dittmeyer’s body was found four days later a quarter-mile away in the pond, which Papile, a former ski area employee, had helped build.
Her mother, Lanell Shackley, said tearfully that she was “the most kind and loving mom” to her little girl.
“That day in April, Anthony Papile took away my daughter, a sister, a mother and a kind and loving friend,” said Shackley, who is caring for Dittmeyer’s daughter, now 2 years old.
Prosecutors said Dittmeyer was lured to the apartment of a friend, Michael Petelis, also of Ossipee. Young said Papile clubbed her in the head three times as she was climbing the stairs. Prosecutors said the pair had plotted to steal drugs and money from her.
Prosecutors said Papile and Petelis bound Dittmeyer’s legs and torso with duct tape and put her in the trunk of her car, which Papile drove to the ski area.
“The defendant parked near the snowmaking pond, submerged her underwater and pushed her away from the land,” Young told the judge.
Prosecutors said another man, Trevor Ferguson of Tamworth, agreed to give Papile a ride home from the ski area in exchange for money and drugs.
Petelis and Ferguson each were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. Their cases are pending.
Ferguson’s lawyer, John Clothier, said his client has no court appearance scheduled but added, “There should be some news in his case coming fairly soon.”
Petelis’ lawyer, Ted Barnes, said he had no comment.
Papile’s sentence could be cut short by about seven years if he earns his high school diploma and completes college-level degrees in prison.
Not long enough.
Sums it up perfectly – not long enough!
And how many years does he have to serve before he is eligible for parole?
No where near enough time. He should remain there forever. He left that baby alone, helpless, in a car that was left running. There could have been a second murder and he didn’t seem to care.
If he had been charged and convicted in Maine, he would have got maybe half the sentence…
Sadly that was my first thought also… If he had crossed the border and killed her he might have only served 10yrs. What a poor statement for justice in Maine.
Papile’s sentence could be cut short by about seven years if he earns his high school diploma and completes other educational courses in prison.
Reminds me of Maine punishments anyways. They should have just given this guy 100 years, and suspended all but 7 if they wanted to give him something. Always got to have some carrot dangling in front of convicts.
Look at the 4 year sentence for drugs distribution, accessory to murder, arson, interstate travel to aid a fugitive etc. in The County (I know those weren’t the exact charges). Odd how a next door State can be so different.
Aren’t you really trying to say how sane judges in New Hampshire can be compared to Maine judges? The sad thing is that in this state, children’s lives mean very little in a court of (alleged) law. This is demonstrated time and time again in the sentences of those convicted of killing them.
Yes, Rebecca, I am. I thought I would tone it down to tippy-toe around it so as not to get slammed! :-)
And why should he be given an education and less time for GETTING that said education because he murdered someone’s mother, daughter, sister ect?!
Agreed! Besides, he already had a chance for a diploma 10 years ago…
Second degree and 50 years! Wow, we are not in Maine anymore!!
If he’d gone to trial and been convicted, I’m sure it would have been for first degree murder in NH, which carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole.
Time off if he gets his high school diploma??!!! Are you kidding me??!! What kind of Judge would allow that and if it happens then he just as much a monster as the murderer is…how pathetic!
Wait a minute…let’s think about this. How do we really know this was a drug deal gone bad of some sorts?? Because HE, the murderer said so?? So we trust what this murderer is saying so therefore maybe he does earn the right to receive a diploma?
I for one have a hard time believing a murderer…how do we know he didnt try to go out with her and got turned down and thats why he did what he did??? I for one, am not going to go on what a monster like that said as any worth….
This is ridiculous! 50 years!???? Then he could get out sooner if he gets schooling. WHAT A JOKE!!!!
Actually the death penalty is too good for this sort. WE should have a “Devil’s Island” for them.
And what’s with letting his accessories off getting with some kind of murder too !
poor woman……….and now motherless child………what a shame
Crazy what drugs will make you do. I would like to know why she had drugs on her. Was she a dealer?
I was beginning to like the sentence handed out until I read the part about rewarding him if he earns his high school diploma and college degree. Millions of fine upstanding citizens are deeply in debt trying to afford a college degree. Yet this yuckle gets a “get out of jail” card and free tuition! Outrageous. Egregious. Heinous. Shameful. Unjust.
Could I ask—What in the hell does getting a high school diploma and some college classes have to do with the fact that this man murdered someone???—-Will it make him smarter the next time he’s looking for drugs and money??
a reduced sentence if he gets a GED and college degree? Please tell me im seeing things. Throw the SOB in a hole.