All four men who had roles in a 2024 Bangor murder have pleaded guilty.
Dylan Boyce, 33, of Exeter pleaded guilty to one felony count of murder and two counts of tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim Tuesday in Penobscot County Superior Court.
He is the fourth person to have admitted to his role in the slaying of Dylan Caruso, who was killed Sept. 30, 2024, in Bangor. Caruso’s body was found weeks later on Oct. 23 in Exeter. Caruso allegedly owed a $600 drug debt to people from Exeter and was killed for being unable to pay, according to previous court testimony.
Boyce was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder charge and five years each for the tampering charges.
Dylan Belanger, 33, of Corinth was sentenced to five years in prison for hindering apprehension or prosecution, with all but 195 days suspended Tuesday. He will serve three years of probation. He had pleaded guilty Aug. 18.
Five people are charged with various felonies related to the 27-year-old’s death and its alleged cover-up. Only one case is still pending.
Samantha McCullough is charged with one felony count each of hindering apprehension or prosecution and tampering with a witness or informant. She is scheduled to enter a new plea Friday.
Kenneth Creamer, 37, of Exeter pleaded guilty to intentional or knowing murder, as well as one count each of aggravated trafficking of fentanyl and aggravated trafficking of cocaine the same day as Belanger. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Holden Melvin, 34, of Exeter pleaded guilty to one felony count of hindering apprehension or prosecution on Sept. 15. He will be sentenced at a later date.
On Sept. 30, 2024, Caruso came to Bangor and asked McCullough if he could stay the night with her at her Ohio Street apartment. She said no because her minor son was staying with her, Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman said previously while detailing what is believed to have happened that night.
After Caruso left the apartment, Belanger and Creamer followed him to Coe Park. Creamer started yelling at Caruso while demanding the money, and then Creamer pulled out a black handgun and shot Caruso in the head.
They shoved Caruso in the trunk of a car and drove him to woods in Exeter. Boyce then stabbed Caruso, Ackerman said. Boyce and Creamer also dropped a rock on Caruso’s head and neck area after dumping him in a ditch.
Belanger eventually took police to Caruso’s body, Ackerman said.