December 7, 2012

Old Orchard man charged with murder, arson in death of grandmother

Derek Poulin is accused of beating and stabbing his grandmother and setting fire to her bedroom.

By Scott Dolan sdolan@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

ALFRED – A 23-year-old man accused of killing his grandmother in her Old Orchard Beach home and setting fire to the bedroom where her body was found has been indicted on charges of murder and arson.

click image to enlarge

Derek Poulin, who is charged with arson and murdering his grandmother Patricia Noel, is lead into York County Superior Court in Alfred Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Staff Photographer

Derek S. Poulin, who lived with his 61-year-old grandmother, Patricia Noel, at her house at 44 Wesley Ave., has been held in custody since his initial appearance on Oct. 30 in York County Superior Court. He was arrested on Oct. 28.

In the weeks before Noel was killed, she described being physically and emotionally abused by Poulin, saying he had called her names, blown cigarette smoke in her face and "gotten physical" with her, according to an affidavit that police filed seeking a warrant for Poulin's arrest.

According to the affidavit, Noel died from multiple blunt impact injuries to the head, skull fractures and multiple stab wounds. Police found a golf club handle and shaft, a golf club head, a wrench and a knife with a 3-inch blade in the shower connected to the bedroom where her body was found.

Police said a "red brown stain" found on the toe of one of Poulin's boots matched Noel's DNA profile, as did a swab of the wrench found in the shower.

Poulin faces 25 years to life in prison on the murder charge, and up to 30 years on the arson charge. 

Staff Writer Scott Dolan can be contacted at: 791-6304 or at

sdolan@mainetoday.com

 

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