State: Livermore Falls hostage-taker died of self-inflicted gunshot

Ricky Merrill, who lives on upper Knapp Street in Jay, stands next to cones blocking through traffic on the street that runs from Livermore Falls to into Jay. Livermore Falls Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said Wednesday that he hoped the investigation into this week’s standoff with Donald White of Jay would be completed by the end of the day so the street could be fully reopened. Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS — A man who took three people hostage and planted explosive devices in their home died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said Wednesday.

Donald White, 44, of Jay also was struck by a shot fired by a state trooper but it was not lethal, said Marc Malon, spokesman for the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

White broke into the residence early Monday, police said. One of the four hostages who lived in the house at 48 Knapp St., Amie Smith, escaped and alerted police.

The nearly daylong standoff that ensued ended with the release of the last of the three hostages and White’s death early Tuesday, police said.

Maine State Police spent Tuesday removing bombs from the house and the investigation continued Wednesday.

White’s cause of death was determined Wednesday during an autopsy, Malon said. The deadly force investigation is continuing and no further details will be released until it’s completed, he said.

White was an ex-boyfriend of Smith and once lived at the Smith family’s house, according to police.

State, county and local police converged on the scene, including tactical teams from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Two hostages either escaped or were released Monday. The last was Amie Smith’s father, Kenney Smith, 64. He was injured during the standoff.

The Maine Attorney General’s Office planned to begin its investigation Wednesday.

Most of Knapp Street, which runs from Livermore Falls into Jay, was blocked to traffic Monday and Tuesday. Livermore Falls Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said he hoped the investigation would be completed Wednesday night so it could be fully reopened.