Grandmother found murdered in her home In the quiet coastal town of Kittery, Maine, Maxine T. Bitomski, a 73-year-old White / Caucasian woman, lived a life centered around her cherished family. She had resided in her home on Colonial Road for four decades, a place filled with the memories of raising a family with her husband, who had passed away in the early 1980s. Known for her kindness, she was the type of person everyone wished to have in their life, and her home was a hub for weekend and holiday gatherings with her adoring
grandchildren.
The evening of Friday, January 15, 1993, began like any other for Maxine. Her granddaughter, Candus, had visited with her earlier in the day and called later that evening to check in. Maxine mentioned she was getting ready for bed shortly. She also watched a televised Kittery Town Council meeting and had a lengthy phone conversation with a friend that lasted until nearly midnight. The following morning, a newspaper delivery driver noticed a side door to Maxine's home was partially open and a window pane was shattered. Despite these suspicious signs, the driver continued on their route, and several neighbors who also saw the broken glass did not alert the authorities, a testament to the perceived safety of their small community.
It wasn't until the afternoon of January 16, 1993, that the horrifying truth came to light. Maxine's grandson, George, arrived at the home to find a scene of disarray. Shattered glass littered the floor, and the dining room showed clear signs of a violent struggle, with pieces of broken furniture strewn about. The search for his grandmother ended in the bathroom, where he found her body in the bathtub. An autopsy later confirmed that her death was a homicide, though the specific cause of death has never been publicly released by investigators.
The investigation into Maxine's murder remained a painful, open wound for her family and the community for decades. Over a year after her death, a woman gardening not far from Maxine's home discovered a plastic Kmart bag hidden under a bush. Inside were a robe and pajamas, and tucked into a pocket were tissues, candy wrappers, and an inhaler bearing Maxine Bitomski's name. Despite this discovery and interviews with a suspect early on, no arrests were made, and the case grew cold. In recent years, however, advances in DNA and forensic technology have breathed new life into the investigation. Maine State Police have announced a renewed focus on a credible suspect who was a person of interest from the beginning. While no charges have been filed, investigators are hopeful that these new developments, combined with fresh interviews, may finally lead to a breakthrough. Maxine's family continues to hold out hope for justice, with her grandson publicly appealing for anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward and help hold the person responsible accountable for their actions.
