Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Father, daughter still in critical condition; public assured Pittston is safe

BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer

PITTSTON -- A father and daughter remained in critical condition at separate Maine hospitals Wednesday, a day after they were critically injured in an attack in their home.

Investigators remained tight-lipped Wednesday about the case in which William G. Guerrette Jr., 48, and Nicole Guerrette, 10, were reportedly stabbed in their Stoney Acres Road home early Tuesday morning.

Police went to lengths to assure the public -- particularly, residents of Pittston -- the community is safe.

"Although I can't go into detail, I want to assure the residents of Kennebec County that, at this point in the investigation, I do not feel the public is at risk," Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The sheriff's office and the Maine State Police are cooperating in the investigation.

They were to have conducted a roadblock on Route 126 early today between midnight and 2:30 a.m. to ask motorists if they saw anything during that same time period Tuesday.

The Guerrette family home is located just off Route 126.

Wednesday afternoon, vehicles belonging to reporters and broadcast news stations lined the quiet residential street as police agencies conducted a news conference designed to reassure the public.

A State Police evidence van was parked in the driveway of the Guerrette home. A twin bed mattress was on the lawn near the street and yellow police tape cordoned off the property. No one could be seen inside the rambling beige home, which sits back from the road and among the trees.

Liberty said he wanted people to know that the agencies "have been working literally around the clock investigating this incident with the goal of finding those responsible."

Liberty said Pittston residents will see increased patrols by sheriff's deputies and Maine State Police troopers "for the immediate future."

He also asked anyone with information that would aid investigators to call state police at 1-(800) 452-4664 or the sheriff's office at 1-(800) 498-1930.

"In my two decades of law enforcement experience in Kennebec County, this has been one of the most violent crimes, and we are committed to finding those responsible," Liberty said.

He declined to answer specific questions about the case, including whether the home invasion was related to a theft of more than $100,000 in cash and valuables from the Guerrette home residence in November 2007. Liberty said he did not want to compromise the investigation by answering questions about it.

Maine State Police Lt. Gary Wright echoed Liberty's assurances the community is safe.

Guerrette is a former legislator who represented Chelsea, Hallowell, Pittston and Hallowell in 1995-96, a Republican in the Maine House of Representatives.

An office in his home was robbed Nov. 16, 2007, during what he said was an unauthorized party hosted by his son, Ryan, while the rest of the family was out of town.

A safe with tens of thousands of dollars and valuable historic bank notes was stolen.

Guerrette said afterward that he investigated the crime himself and found the safe in a closet at the home of one of the men who allegedly had been at the party, Daniel L. Fortune, 20, of Augusta. Guerrette had said he then reported his find to police.

Another man who had been at that party, William Page, 19, of Manchester pleaded guilty to the crime and is behind bars.

Fortune pleaded not guilty and remains free.

He posted bail but failed to appear for an initial court date on the theft charge. On Wednesday, he said he had been questioned twice by State Police and told them he knew nothing of the home invasion.

Ryan C. Guerrette, 18, was charged with criminal trespass and supplying minors with liquor in connection with the party. Those charges remain pending in Augusta District Court.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com