Chad22
05-05-2003, 08:04 PM
Im really surprised about it because its not far from where i live, And The guy that they think did it was once my Substitute Teacher. And Now its even on CNN.Com. I Guess things like this can happen anywhere
NEW SWEDEN, Maine (CNN) -- The prime suspect in the Maine church poisoning might have had at least one accomplice, an investigator hinted Monday.
Lt. Dennis Appleton of the state police also said a dispute within the Lutheran congregation in the small town of New Sweden could have been the motive.
Daniel Bondeson, 53, was found dead from a gunshot wound at his farm Friday, and authorities said Monday that they think he is linked to the poisoning.
Walter Morrill, a 78-year-old member and the head usher at Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church, died, and 15 church members fell ill after drinking arsenic-laced coffee at the church April 27.
Police are due to reveal the results of an autopsy carried out on Bondeson on Monday, but Appleton said he could not release the cause of death because the medical examiner's office had not closed the investigation.
It is hoped the autopsy will reveal whether Bondeson killed himself or was killed by someone else. Appleton would not comment on reports that a suicide note was found with the body.
"I'm not prepared to say that he acted alone or that he was the person who introduced [the arsenic] into the coffee," Appleton of the state police said at a news conference Monday.
Carefully choosing his responses to reporters' questions, Appleton would not comment on any specifics of the investigation or other suspects in the case.
Worshippers in New Sweden, Maine, returned Sunday to the church that was the site of arsenic poisonings.
"We never discuss suspects. We just feel we shouldn't stop [with Bondeson]," Appleton said.
He said "church dynamics" could have triggered the poisoning, but he would not elaborate.
"It probably was something that was grinding at some people for some time," Appleton said. "In the end, we may find they don't seem like logical explanations for murder."
It took "some tugging and pulling" to get information from parishioners at the church in the small, close-knit community, Appleton said.
"Perhaps they weren't as candid at first as they could have been," Appleton said. When authorities questioned parishioners, "It was, 'can you tell us anything?' And the answer was no. You go back to them and ask a specific question, and it's, 'OK, I'll tell you about that.' I think they just wanted to be asked specific questions."
He said authorities believe the incident was "localized to that church," and that because coffee was the substance poisoned, children were not the target.
Appleton said Bondeson had not been active in the church recently, but he did not provide details of any previous involvement.
Police collected fingerprints and DNA samples from parishioners Sunday.
Church members, most of whom are descended from Swedish immigrants, wanted Sunday to be as normal as possible, so after services they moved to an adjoining room for coffee, muffins and doughnuts, The Associated Press reported.
Maine Gov. John Baldacci joined parishioners, while two state troopers stood guard over the coffee, the AP reported. "We're here to just stand with you, pray with you," the governor told the congregation.
Church members continue to grapple with their emotions.
"I've known Danny for a long time. He was a very nice fellow. I liked him very much," parishioner Beatrice Page said about Bondeson.
"It's unbelievable what's happening here," parishioner Fred Anderson said. "I can't figure it out or come to any conclusions on how or why it happened."
Arsenic was once used as an agricultural pesticide and can be found in abundance in rural areas of the state, said Col. Michael Sperry, chief of the Maine State Police.
The AP reported that Bondeson, the son and grandson of potato farmers, spent most of his life on the land where he was raised in nearby Woodland. Townspeople describe him as a loner who liked running and cross-country skiing, according to the AP.
Daniel and his brother, Carl, were among the few local residents still operating a family farm in recent years, the AP said.
Bondeson, who at one time served on the church council, was not one of the 27 people at last Sunday's coffee hour, though churchgoers said he had attended a bake sale the previous day, according to the AP.
-- CNN correspondent Jamie Colby contributed to this report.
NEW SWEDEN, Maine (CNN) -- The prime suspect in the Maine church poisoning might have had at least one accomplice, an investigator hinted Monday.
Lt. Dennis Appleton of the state police also said a dispute within the Lutheran congregation in the small town of New Sweden could have been the motive.
Daniel Bondeson, 53, was found dead from a gunshot wound at his farm Friday, and authorities said Monday that they think he is linked to the poisoning.
Walter Morrill, a 78-year-old member and the head usher at Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church, died, and 15 church members fell ill after drinking arsenic-laced coffee at the church April 27.
Police are due to reveal the results of an autopsy carried out on Bondeson on Monday, but Appleton said he could not release the cause of death because the medical examiner's office had not closed the investigation.
It is hoped the autopsy will reveal whether Bondeson killed himself or was killed by someone else. Appleton would not comment on reports that a suicide note was found with the body.
"I'm not prepared to say that he acted alone or that he was the person who introduced [the arsenic] into the coffee," Appleton of the state police said at a news conference Monday.
Carefully choosing his responses to reporters' questions, Appleton would not comment on any specifics of the investigation or other suspects in the case.
Worshippers in New Sweden, Maine, returned Sunday to the church that was the site of arsenic poisonings.
"We never discuss suspects. We just feel we shouldn't stop [with Bondeson]," Appleton said.
He said "church dynamics" could have triggered the poisoning, but he would not elaborate.
"It probably was something that was grinding at some people for some time," Appleton said. "In the end, we may find they don't seem like logical explanations for murder."
It took "some tugging and pulling" to get information from parishioners at the church in the small, close-knit community, Appleton said.
"Perhaps they weren't as candid at first as they could have been," Appleton said. When authorities questioned parishioners, "It was, 'can you tell us anything?' And the answer was no. You go back to them and ask a specific question, and it's, 'OK, I'll tell you about that.' I think they just wanted to be asked specific questions."
He said authorities believe the incident was "localized to that church," and that because coffee was the substance poisoned, children were not the target.
Appleton said Bondeson had not been active in the church recently, but he did not provide details of any previous involvement.
Police collected fingerprints and DNA samples from parishioners Sunday.
Church members, most of whom are descended from Swedish immigrants, wanted Sunday to be as normal as possible, so after services they moved to an adjoining room for coffee, muffins and doughnuts, The Associated Press reported.
Maine Gov. John Baldacci joined parishioners, while two state troopers stood guard over the coffee, the AP reported. "We're here to just stand with you, pray with you," the governor told the congregation.
Church members continue to grapple with their emotions.
"I've known Danny for a long time. He was a very nice fellow. I liked him very much," parishioner Beatrice Page said about Bondeson.
"It's unbelievable what's happening here," parishioner Fred Anderson said. "I can't figure it out or come to any conclusions on how or why it happened."
Arsenic was once used as an agricultural pesticide and can be found in abundance in rural areas of the state, said Col. Michael Sperry, chief of the Maine State Police.
The AP reported that Bondeson, the son and grandson of potato farmers, spent most of his life on the land where he was raised in nearby Woodland. Townspeople describe him as a loner who liked running and cross-country skiing, according to the AP.
Daniel and his brother, Carl, were among the few local residents still operating a family farm in recent years, the AP said.
Bondeson, who at one time served on the church council, was not one of the 27 people at last Sunday's coffee hour, though churchgoers said he had attended a bake sale the previous day, according to the AP.
-- CNN correspondent Jamie Colby contributed to this report.