A Carrabassett Valley man accused of killing his girlfriend had for weeks “belittled” and demeaned her in text messages and threatened to hurt her before she died, according to witnesses in a police affidavit.

Austin J. Doucette, 24, is accused of shooting Makayla Rose DeSantis, 23, of Carrabassett Valley twice on March 8 at his condominium at 1215 Left Bank in Carrabassett Valley. She died at a Portland hospital while undergoing surgery for bullet wounds to her chest.

Doucette is being held without bail at the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington until a hearing is set.

Doucette told detectives he shot DeSantis by “accident” at his condominium the two shared in Carrabassett Valley near Sugarloaf, according to a police affidavit filed with a Farmington court.

DeSantis worked at 45 North, a restaurant at the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel in Carrabassett Valley. Doucette also worked for Sugarloaf in a different capacity.

The two had been dating since May 13, 2018, and were in a long-distance relationship until DeSantis moved to Maine in 2024. They initially lived with Doucette’s father for a short time and then at the Herbert Hotel in Kingfield, which Sugarloaf purchased for workforce housing before moving to the Left Bank condominium, DeSantis’ parents told police.

On Feb. 20 of this year, DeSantis asked her supervisor to schedule her to work every day that Doucette had off. She told her supervisor she didn’t want to be home with Doucette, according to the afidavit. The supervisor also mentioned that Doucette had grabbed DeSantis by the arm within two weeks before her death. The young woman had brushed it off.

A co-worker of DeSantis told police Doucette was “not respectful” of his girlfriend and called her demeaning names in text messages, the affidavit stated.

Another co-worker told police the couple had recently bought a car together and Doucette wanted only his name on it for ownership.

A third co-worker echoed comments from the others and told police Doucette “was verbally and emotionally abusive” to DeSantis. The co-worker also told police Doucette had pushed her twice but that DeSantis downplayed it, according to the affidavit.

The worker also told police that every time DeSantis got paid she would pay Doucette’s credit card bill and have no money left for herself. The co-worker also noticed bruises on DeSantis’ arms and wrists, but again she brushed it off, the affidavit states.

A co-worker also told police that on Feb. 20, about two weeks before the shooting, Doucette told DeSantis not to come home that evening and if she did “he would hurt her.” DeSantis did go home that evening.

When police conducted a warrant search at the couple’s condominium where DeSantis was shot, they seized 26 firearms, ammunition for them and other items.

Another co-worker told police Doucette went to a gun range in Skowhegan at least once a week and also stopped at a gun shop, according to the search warrant results.

HOW TO GET HELP

IF YOU or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline at 866-834-4357 to talk to someone who can help. You can learn more online at www.mcedv.org/get-help/.

IF YOU or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, you can call the statewide Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line at 800-871-7741 to talk to someone who can help. You can learn more online at www.mecasa.org.

FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

FOR OTHER support or referrals, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email [email protected].