State crime wrap up: murder, suicide, drugs, missing person

AUGUSTA — State Police finished last week by investigating a murder-suicide in Richmond that occurred either Friday night or Saturday morning. Prior to that incident, they reported on another death, a drug bust, and a lost individual.

The reports are as follows:

December 15

Richmond murder-suicide

State Police say the death of a Richmond woman over the weekend was a domestic violence homicide. Detectives say Niomi Mello was shot to death by her long time boyfriend, Kirk Alexander Jr., who then turned the 9mm handgun on himself. Both were shot in the head.

The shooting likely took place late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Families members were updated on the case Dec. 17.

The bodies of the couple were found in the kitchen of their home Saturday, around the noon hour, by Mello’s 11-year-old son, after he got up. The boy then went to a nearby store and police were called.

A team of State Police detectives and evidence technicians are at the mobile home, located at 7 Post Road, a short distance from the Routes 138 & 197 intersection. 

Police say there is no indications of any threat to the public.

December 15

State Police say a Biddeford man, 27-year-old Tyler Seaver, was struck and killed on the Maine Turnpike in Saco early this morning. The mishap took place in the northbound lanes about 3 a.m.

The victim was first struck by a passenger vehicle driven by 47-year-old James Yionenand, then a tractor trailer operated by 49-year-old Christoph Phillips. Hometowns of the two drivers was not immediately available.  Both drivers were not injured.

The northbound lanes were closed at the crash site for four hours, and traffic was detoured during that time. The lanes reopened at 7:15 a.m.

Troopers are attempting to determine where and how the man got on the turnpike, as no vehicle has been located connected to him.

Troopers say they are still trying to determine why Seaver was walking along the road. 

December 14

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announces the arrests of two Massachusetts people for Aggravated Trafficking in Heroin/Fentanyl.

Arrested were:

Luis Ortiz (24) of Lowell, Massachusetts for Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs
(Heroin/Fentanyl)

Tatiana Rosado (27) of Lowell, Massachusetts for Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs
(Heroin/Fentanyl)

On December 13, 2018, agents from the Cumberland District Task Force arranged the delivery of 200 grams of fentanyl and heroin from Luis Ortiz of Lowell Massachusetts.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., Ortiz arrived at a South Portland parking lot accompanied by Tatiana Rosado. The two delivered 20 fingers (213 grams) of suspected heroin/fentanyl mix to the undercover agent.

Ortiz and Rosado were arrested without incident and transported to the Cumberland County Jail.

An additional 15 grams of fentanyl/heroin mix was also seized from Ortiz during the arrest.

The average street price for heroin and fentanyl being sold in southern Maine is $160 per gram.

Bail was set for Ortiz and Rosado at $25,000.

Assisting in this investigation .and arrests were the South Portland and Scarborough Police.

If you have information about the illegal sale of drugs in this state, you are urged to contact the MDEA office closest to you or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 800-452-6457.

December 13

State Police have charged a Hartford man in connection with the death of his long time girlfriend inside their home. 46-year-old Rondon Athayde was charged with murder and taken to the Oxford County Jail. He is expected to make his first court appearance Friday in Oxford Superior Court. The arrest took place about 6 p.m.

Athayde called 911 just after midnight and Troopers, Oxford County deputies and State Police detectives responded to the home on Bear Mountain Road. 

Investigators and evidence technicians were expected to remain at the home for most of the day. 

Athayde is charged in the death of 41-year-old Ana Cordeiro. The couple have two young children, ages 3 & 4, who are now in the custody of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

The couple moved to Maine from Miami about two years ago and originally are from Brazil. She worked at Lowe’s in Auburn.

An autopsy took place today by the State Medical Examiner who determined the death to be a homicide. The cause of death is not being released.

Cordeiro lived at the home with her boyfriend, Athayde, and their two children.

Athayde had been questioned by police and had been cooperating with the investigation. 

December 10

An elderly New Gloucester man was found safe this morning after he drove to Connecticut.  93-year-old William Mitchell was located in a parking lot of a housing project in Deep River, CT., — a four hour drive from Maine. 

Mitchell, who has dementia, apparently was trying to locate his daughter in Norfolk, CT, on the opposite end of State. 

Mitchell was likely driving his car and had been missing since Monday afternoon. He left his home driving his 2017 Hyundai Accent.

Mitchell is 5’9″ tall, weighs 180 pounds, and was wearing a blue flannel shirt and a Navy ball cap. He had talked about visiting his daughter in Norfolk, Connecticut, so he and his car could be anywhere in New England. 

Mitchell has no driver’s license and the car’s registration has expired.  

A photo of Mitchell was not readily available.

Anyone seeing Mitchell or his car is asked to call Maine State Police in Bangor at 973-3700.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com