On the morning of Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Southwest Harbor police officers were dispatched to a private residence near 11 Big Rocks Road in Tremont, Maine, following a 911 call reporting the discovery of two deceased adults. Upon arrival at approximately 8:57 a.m., law enforcement officials located the bodies of 78-year-old Jyoti Hawley and her husband, 75-year-old William Hawley, inside the home.
The scene was secured, and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North was called in to lead the investigation in coordination with local authorities.
Detectives and the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team processed the residence to collect evidence, while the bodies were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for examination. Autopsies performed on Friday, December 26, 2025, determined that both individuals died from gunshot wounds. The medical examiner ruled Jyoti Hawley's death a homicide and William Hawley's death a suicide.
Investigators concluded that the shootings were the result of a murder-suicide committed by William Hawley, a composer who had lived in the coastal Maine town with his wife for many years. Maine State Police stated that they had identified all involved parties and determined the event was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public. Consequently, no arrests were made, and authorities closed the case without seeking any additional suspects.
