Maine State Police have arrested a man they say fled to Florida after killing his ex-wife in Waldoboro earlier this month.
James Clark, 49, of Damariscotta, was arrested at the Red Carpet Inn in South Daytona, Florida, on Friday and was charged with murder in the death of Levern Kelley, 53, of Waldoboro, Maine State Police said.
Court records show Clark and Kelley divorced in 2023. In June 2024, he was charged with one count each of domestic violence assault and domestic violence criminal threatening, both class D charges, against Kelley. Those charges were later dropped and he pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in January.
Kelley was found dead on Aug. 9 at her home on Genthner Road.
A warrant was issued for Clark’s arrest on Friday morning after several days of investigation. State police said Clark was found with help from the Maine Information and Analysis Center and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Clark was arrested without incident and is awaiting extradition to Maine, police said. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office posted a video on Facebook of deputies taking Clark into custody at the inn’s parking lot. The body camera footage shows Clark sitting in his car and complying with deputy commands at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Waldoboro officers and Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies went to Kelley’s home after someone called 911 to check on her after she didn’t show up for work.
After an autopsy the next day, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta ruled her death a homicide.
Police have revealed few details about what they believe happened to Kelley, including her cause of death.
On a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Kelley’s “final wishes,” her daughter Amanda Gustafson wrote that someone had called 911 after her mother hadn’t shown up for work.
“There was foul play involved, and my mom was murdered, I’m still in disbelief,” Gustafson wrote. “We all are.”
Gustafson also posted a comment under the Facebook video of Clark’s arrest, saying, “Thank you so much to the police that arrested this man. My mother was the victim of what happened in (W)aldobro Maine and I am grateful to law enforcement.”
The Press Herald could not reach the family this week.
