WISCASSET, Maine — A Waldoboro woman has been indicted for intentional or knowing murder by a Lincoln County grand jury in connection with the death of her boyfriend earlier this year.
Arline Lawless, 25, who is also known as Arline Seavey, is accused of fatally shooting her boyfriend, Norman Benner, 34, of Waldoboro, in the back of the head on or around July 22 as he slept in a home they shared at 2177 Friendship Road in Waldoboro. Detectives have said Lawless then shot herself in the face, but the wound was not fatal. Lawless allegedly told police and members of Benner’s family that she shot him because she feared he was planning to break up with her.
The aftermath of the shootings was discovered by one of Benner’s family members on Monday, July 23. It is unclear exactly when the shootings took place, though police have said it was during the previous weekend.
According to records in Lincoln County Superior Court, Lawless was indicted last week by a grand jury. The records indicate that she is accused of using a .22 LR-caliber revolver in the shooting. Police have said the gun belonged to Jeremy McPhee, who owns the home where the couple was staying, but was not home the weekend of the shooting. McPhee is not charged in connection with the shootings.
Lawless was arrested last month when she was released from Spring Harbor treatment center in Westbrook. She declined to enter any plea to the charges against her during her first court appearance on Aug. 17. According to a superior court clerk, Lawless is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27 in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset. She is being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
