Skowhegan man’s death not considered suspicious, police say

SKOWHEGAN — The death of a 36-year-old man at an apartment does not appear to be suspicious, a Maine State Police spokesman said Friday.

The man was identified Friday evening as Paul McCarthy, according to a news release from Stephen McCausland, a Department of Public Safety spokesman. McCausland said McCarthy’s death didn’t seem suspicious and an autopsy would be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

A state police Major Crimes Unit truck was parked on Friday afternoon in the driveway of an apartment building on West Front Street in Skowhegan following a report of a man being found dead in his bed. The call came in at 9:49 a.m. Friday.

By 2 p.m. Friday, two Skowhegan Police Department cruisers with flashing blue lights were parked on the sidewalk outside 33 West Front St. at the corner of Alder Street. A state police cruiser and a detective’s car idled nearby.

Men on the street who said they were McCarthy’s friends said he apparently died from an overdose of the drug Klonopin, which is used to treat seizure, panic or anxiety disorders. Skowhegan police Chief Don Bolduc had no comment at the scene.

McCausland said state police often are called to assist in investigations. He said that was the case Friday in Skowhegan.

“It was an investigation that Skowhegan police began and asked for some assistance from state police,” McCausland said. “Many times local departments will ask for state police assistance, and that’s what we’re providing them.”

The state police criminal investigation division’s Major Crimes Unit is responsible for major investigations including homicides, suspicious deaths and child abuse cases. The unit investigates all homicides in Maine, except in Portland and Bangor.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

[email protected]

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow

Related Stories