News

40-year sentence upheld for man who killed his roommate

40-year sentence upheld for man who killed his roommate

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


Maine’s supreme court has upheld a 40-year prison sentence imposed on a man who killed his roommate.

Dustan Bentley pleaded guilty to murder in the death of 65-year-old William Popplewell in Old Ochard Beach in March 2019. Police arrested him as he was attempting to ratchet Popplewell’s body in to the trunk of his car, which was lined with a shower curtain.

An autopsy revealed the victim had been beaten, strangled and stabbed up to 30 times.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled that there was no evidence that the judge deviated from established sentencing principles.

Latest Headlines

1 hour ago in Local

Cat Dies in Campground Fire in Farmington

Fresh

Crews were sent to the fire at 283 Red Schoolhouse Road in Farmington

2 hours ago in Local

Lewiston Police Ask for Return of Items Mistakenly Taken from Closed Store

Fresh

Officers say they were sent to a report Saturday of people removing items from Goshen Super Market.

2 hours ago in Local

Waterville police respond to 2 unrelated shootings within 24 hours

Waterville police say two shootings reported within 24 hours are not related.

3 hours ago in Local

Manager of Maine U.S. Senate hopeful Graham Platner’s campaign steps down for family reasons

The manager of Graham Platner's campaign for U.S. Senate in Maine is stepping down for family-related reasons.

12 hours ago in Trending, World

Melissa strengthens to a Category 5 hurricane and is forecast to make landfall in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.