WASHINGTON — The State Fire Marshal’s Office says the body of a local man was found hanging from a garage after the man set fire to his summer camp and also attempted to burn down his mother’s house late Tuesday.
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said the body of 37-year-old Robert Medeika was found hanging from a ridge pole on a nearby garage Tuesday evening after firefighters arrived at the fire scene on Medeika Lane.
The fire destroyed the camp, but damage to the mother’s house was minor, McCausland said. She was not at home.
A Maine State Police bomb team was also called to the garage where the man’s body was found to examine a suspicious item inside which turned out to be harmless.
McCausland said the bomb team’s involvement was a precaution following a police standoff with Medeika a year or so ago, in which he had placed a number of explosive devices on the property. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office also was involved in investigation during the night .
The fire was first reported before 9 p.m.
Washington is a town of approximately 1,400 people in Knox County.
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