AUGUSTA — A Belfast man who killed his wife and assaulted his mother with a fire poker in Readfield was deemed not criminally responsible for those acts Thursday. He was ordered held by the state in a psychiatric hospital over the objections of his late wife’s family.
Family and friends of Margaux Whittemore testified at Capital Judicial Center at Samuel Whittemore’s sentencing hearing that he should be sent to prison for killing her, not to a hospital for mental health treatment.
Whittemore, 34, was visiting his parents’ home in Readfield Feb. 19 with Margaux Whittemore, 32, when he killed her. He then strangled his mother, Dorothy “Darcy” Whittemore, breaking her clavicle and fracturing one of her ribs and fingers.
Whittemore pleaded he was not criminally responsible for his wife’s death and mother’s injuries following testimony by mental health experts.
Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ordered him to be held for treatment by the state Department of Health and Human Services at one of the state’s two psychiatric hospitals, Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta or Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital in Bangor.
He will be held there until if and when he is determined to not be a threat to himself or anyone else, which would be established by his treatment team and approved by a judge.
Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman said Margaux Whittemore died of sharp and blunt force injuries. Dorothy Whittemore told police she thought her son used a fire poker to attack her and kill his wife.
Dorothy Whittemore told police in a 911 call that her son was having a mental breakdown and was not himself.
Samuel Whittemore was apprehended running naked down the road with his hands over his head. He told police he killed the people he loved the most, he was broken, he just killed his mother and wife and was sorry. His comments to police, Ackerman said, were interspersed with screaming and nonsensical and sometimes incomprehensible statements.
Samuel Whittemore was indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury March 19 on charges of intentional or knowing or depraved indifference murder, aggravated attempted murder and aggravated assault. He could have been sentenced to life in prison on the murder charge.
Forensic psychologists testified Thursday that Samuel Whittemore did not have the mental capacity to realize what he was doing was wrong when he attacked his family.
Dr. Melissa Jankowski, a forensic psychologist with the State Forensic Service, said Samuel Whittemore suffered from bipolar 1 disorder, with psychotic features, a severe and lifelong mental illness that can cause extreme mood swings, mania and depression. She said at the time of the attack he was experiencing a manic episode as his disorder reached psychosis, and he had delusional beliefs and was misperceiving reality.
Jankowski testified that Samuel Whittemore told her before his attack, he was using Chat GPT artificial intelligence technology up to 14 hours a day. She said he told her he talked to the technology as if it was a companion, and it told him he was smart, special and doing OK. She said work stress and his focus on AI appear to have helped push him toward mental instability.
Margaux Whittemore’s LinkedIn profile indicates she was an international marketing and strategy consultant, project coordinator and branding, wellness and communication manager and was a former resident of France.
Numerous members of Margaux’s family and friends spoke in court, some speaking through a French interpreter. They described her as intelligent, kind, exceptional, caring, loving and talented. Several said Samuel Whittemore should be punished, not hospitalized, and that he is dangerous and should never be allowed back into society. They said Margaux’s birthday was the day before the court hearing. Some also suggested Samuel Whittemore’s family should have recognized his mental illness and taken him to get help.
Family members, some who traveled from France for the hearing, said Samuel Whittemore should be sent to prison, not a mental hospital. A proper viewing at Margaux’s funeral wasn’t possible because her body was so badly damaged she was unrecognizable.
“My mother’s heart is bruised forever,” Margaux Whittemore’s mother, Kathy said, through the translator. “I wish with all my mother’s heart he will be punished for the horrible crimes he committed.”
Samuel Whittemore looked straight ahead as Margaux Whittemore’s family spoke behind him. One of her cousins noted he did not turn to listen to them, calling him a spineless coward.
Samuel Whittemore initially fled the home on Giles Road in Readfield after the attack, but was taken into custody a short distance away. He was charged with murder Feb. 20 after an autopsy determined the death of his wife was a homicide.
Samuel Whittemore underwent mental health treatment after his arrest, to restore his mental competence, and Murphy said Thursday his mental competence was no longer an issue and he was able to take part in his defense.
Samuel Whittemore had not previously been diagnosed with any mental health disorder.
He wore a dark suit and tie in court and spoke only to answer Murphy’s questions.
Dr. April O’Grady, a psychiatrist for the defense, said Samuel Whittemore told her he thought the world was being populated by machines, robots were taking over the earth, and he believed his wife had become part machine.
Murphy addressed Margaux Whittemore’s family after they spoke, expressing sympathy and noting how much she was loved. But, she said, the evidence, and state law, was clear that Samuel Whittemore was not criminally responsible in the case.
