A Bridgton man accused of shooting and killing his former brother-in-law outside the man’s Sebago home last month has been indicted by a Cumberland County grand jury on a charge of murder.
David Pinkham, 67, has remained in custody since his arrest on March 5, the day he allegedly shot 66-year-old Charles Cross to death outside Cross’ home at 331 Hancock Pond Road. Pinkham was ordered held without bail last month in the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland.
Cross had been married to Pinkham’s sister for more than 20 years before they divorced about two decades ago. Pinkham remained friends with Cross after the divorce, according to an affidavit filed with the court by Maine State Police Detective John Kyle.
Cross’ longtime girlfriend, Paula Simonds, 59, was in the living room of the home with their 7-year-old grandson when Pinkham drove into the driveway.
Simonds told police Cross let Pinkham into the house and the two men chatted in the kitchen for a while.
“After approximately five minutes, Pinkham left and Cross followed as he always does with their guests to walk them outside. She said shortly thereafter, she heard a noise that sounded like ‘pop-pop.’ She looked out the window and saw Cross laying in the snowbank,” Kyle wrote.
Pinkham drove off, and Simonds called 911. Police in Bridgton pulled over Pinkham’s car about 10 minutes later and saw he had a .38-caliber revolver in plain view on the front passenger seat. Police later determined that Pinkham bought the gun less than two weeks before the shooting, the affidavit says.
Authorities have yet to identify a motive for the shooting.
Murder in Maine is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.
Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:
Twitter: @scottddolan
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