The three victims in the July 5 fatal shootings on Russell Road in Madison all died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest, according to autopsy results released Monday by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta.

The shooter in the case, Carroll Tuttle Jr., died of multiple gunshot wounds in a reported exchange of gunfire with three deputies from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Mark Belserene, administrator at the medical examiner’s office, said in an email Monday morning that 52-year-old Lori Hayden and her 25-year-old son Dustin Tuttle died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest. The manner of death was ruled as homicide.

They were shot and killed by Tuttle Jr., 51, at their home at 316 Russell Road, according to police.

Police said Tuttle Jr. then shot and killed Mike R. Spaulding, 57, at his home at 299 Russell Road up the road, before returning to the area of his home and shooting and wounding Harvey Austin, 57, of Skowhegan, who survived the shooting and is recovering. Deputies from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office who had gone to the area then shot and killed Tuttle Jr. in his driveway.

Meanwhile, a community gathering has been scheduled to discuss the shooting from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Centenary United Methodist Church at 103 Dr. Mann Road in Skowhegan. The meeting was called by Skowhegan Selectwoman Betty Austin, who is also a lay leader at the church and a state representative from Skowhegan. District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said she plans to attend, as will Melody Fitch, executive director at the Family Violence Project.

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“This is specifically for any and all community members who want to find fellowship around the homicides that took place last week,” Fitch said in an email shared by Maloney. “Their plan is to provide beverages and both quiet and shared spaces where folks can talk, share, and begin healing. This is not a memorial service with the families nor for any particular direct victim. It is for the entire community.”

Fitch said if anyone needs to talk specifically with an advocate or if they have questions, her team will be there.

Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, called the killings “an extreme case of domestic violence.”

Belserene would not say how many times the victims were shot or what sort of weapon was used. He said reports of testing for drugs and alcohol would not be released with Monday’s announcement.

Harvey Austin is married to Trisha Austin, Lori Hayden’s sister and the finance and human resources director for the town of Skowhegan. Austin and Hayden’s mother is Skowhegan Selectwoman Darla Pickett, who also is a former Morning Sentinel reporter.

Michael J. Spaulding, 21, of Gorham, son of victim Mike Spaulding, said Tuttle Jr. might have falsely believed that his father was having an affair with Hayden. The elder Spaulding’s girlfriend, Sherry, was there when the shooting took place. He said Sherry called him a few minutes later, saying Tuttle Jr. had just shot his father.

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“Sherry came out and she said, ‘What’s your problem?’ and he looked down and said, ‘That’s what you get for (expletive) my wife,’ and he left. He just walked away,” Spaulding said. “Those allegations weren’t true because what was happening was Carroll was abusive and my dad was helping his wife move out of the house and get away from that.”

An eyewitness described the chaotic conclusion of the shooting, saying that deputies spotted Tuttle Jr.’s pickup truck and confronted him just after he had shot Austin. Tuttle Jr. reportedly shot at the deputies, who quickly returned fire and killed the gunman, according to the eyewitness, Donald Curtis.

The three deputies involved in shooting Carroll Tuttle Jr. were Chief Deputy James Ross; his son, Detective Michael Ross; and Deputy Joseph Jackson. All three are on paid administrative lead pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The Office of the Maine Attorney General is investigating the officer-involved shooting, as is protocol in Maine, and the deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave in the meantime.

Donald Curtis, who lives at 294 Russell Road, next door to Hayden, said he went out into his yard when he saw all the police and emergency vehicles going to Spaulding’s home. Spaulding’s girlfriend identified Tuttle Jr.’s pickup, he said. He said Hayden and her son worked for Harvey Austin, who runs a construction business.

Curtis saw Tuttle Jr. shoot Harvey Austin, followed by what sounded like fireworks going off as sheriff’s deputies exchanged gunfire with Tuttle Jr.

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“I was standing here with a sheriff, and one of them went down to Carroll’s to confront him and he just started to open fire,” Curtis said. “Apparently he went into the house and came out the back of the house and come around to the side and shot Harvey Austin right in the face — it was gunfire worse than fireworks. I see Harvey drop in the road. The sheriffs threw me under that truck over there when they started shooting.

“I didn’t see Carroll until it was all said and done. He was dead. It blew my mind.”

Deputies threw Curtis under his late father’s 1980 pickup truck to get him out of the line of fire, he said. He said he heard 20 or 30 gunshot rounds fired.

The Ford F-250 under which Curtis took cover has sentimental value to him.

“My father died seven years ago and left me that truck. It protected me yesterday,” he said. Curtis also said he was told Tuttle Jr. had killed Spaulding because he believed Spaulding was involved in a relationship with Hayden.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow


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