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Dec. 28, 1982UPl PhotosThomas M Schueler, 18, left, of East Boothbay was scheduled to be arraigned today in the stabbing and strangling death of 37-year-old Ruth Hartford, right, also of East Boothbay, a mother of two and a popular local singer. Hartford’s body was found by searchers in a coastal cave after she had been missing for several days.Teenager charged with murderin slaying of East Boothbay womanEAST BOOTHBAY, (LTD -Police have filed murder charges against an 18year-old man they say may have camped in a shoreline cave with a 37-year-old mother of two found stablR'd and apparently strangled.Thomas Schueler of East Boothbay was arrested at his home about 2 a.m. Monday in the death m Ruth Hartford, also of East Boothbay. He was taken to the Lincoln County Courthouse lor questioning and then transferred to a jail to await arraignment later today.Assistant Attorney Ceneral I'asquale J 1’errmosaid there were multiple stab wounds to the woman’s neck, her hands were tied and there was a rope around her neck He said she was apparently strangled, though an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death.I’errino said Schueler may havestayed in the cave with the deadwoman“There was some evidence of a camp site. There was some other evidence there, such as sleeping bags,” I’errino said.He declined to say exactly how policelinked Schueler to the slaying.“He was a target of investigation just atxuit from the beginning of this thing, I’errino said We had been looking at him from the beginning,Mrs Hartford had been missing since Wednesday and was the object of a massive sea and land search throughout the Christmas weekend.Detective Sgt. Daniel Davey of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department found the body in a cave on the shore of Linekin Bay.“It was on land, not in the water at all,” Davey saidChief Deputy William Cade said he arrested Schueler without incident.“He offered no resistance at all, Cade said. “I picked him up at his home.Cade said there was a massive effort tolind the woman.“We used dogs, boats and a lot of people on foot, he said.“She was in one of the caves that had not been searched by a dog.” Cade saidMrs Hartford had two daughters, aged 11 and 13.“She was reported missing in the evening of Wednesday, though she had been gone since early in the day, Cade said.State police investigators, game wardens, sheriff’s deputies. Coast Guard personnel and volunteers helped in the search.The body was found at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, i'errino said.“The reason that area was checked w as that the Sheriff’s Oi l ice received a telephone call from a member of the public who said there are a lot ol caves around the area and that they should be cheeked,’* I’errino saidHe said the name of the caller was being withheld because he would be a witness in the case.Authorities said Mrs. Hartford was not at home when she was apparently abducted.“She was out, Cade said.I'errino said, “Preliminary indications are that this was a sexually motivated murder. There was an abduction.He said Schueler was not charged with kidnapping.
Newspaper Details
Biddeford Journal Tribune
Biddeford, Maine, US
Tue, Dec 28, 1982
Page 8
Full Page
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ME, USA 27 Dec 2020
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