CARIBOU — A jury Friday found an Aroostook County man guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend two years ago at her home in St. Francis, WCSH-TV reported.
Jesse Marquis, 40, of St. Francis, stabbed Amy Theriault, 31, multiple times before shooting her with a hunting rifle, the prosecutor said.
Police said the victim had broken up with Marquis and was staying with friends when he showed up at her home on May 31, 2014. Marquis hid in the woods for a week afterward and was the object of a manhunt. He was captured in June 2014 with help from a bloodhound from New Hampshire’s Strafford County Sheriff’s Department.
Theriault was living at 754 Main St. in St. Francis, a small town in northern Aroostook County, when she was killed.
The defense and prosecution gave short closing arguments Friday before the jury deliberated for about an hour and a half, the Portland TV station reported.
Theriault’s family expressed relief after the verdict was read.
“Nothing that ever happened here can bring her back, but at least maybe it can prevent anybody else from being hurt or draw attention to domestic violence and how important it is to be aware,” the victim’s sister, Pam DuBois, told WCSH.
A stone-faced Marquis had no reaction to the guilty verdict.
“It turned out well,” said the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General John Alsop. “The state had a very strong case. There was overwhelming evidence of guilt.”
But the defense, led by lawyer Stephen Smith, thought a crucial part of the evidence was overlooked.
“We believe the jury missed the self-defense claim,” he told WCSH. “It was a very viable claim.”
Marquis will be held without bail until his sentencing on July 6. The defense plans to appeal.
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