On a summer day, the quiet coastal town of Brooklin, Maine, was rocked by a tragedy that unfolded within the walls of a family home. Pamela Gail Berenson Cohen, a 71-year-old Caucasian female, died on July 2, 2023, in what was later determined to be a murder-suicide. She was a retired special educator, known for her quiet dedication to helping others and her active volunteer work in the community.
The grim discovery was made on that Sunday afternoon when one of her children found Pamela
and her 75-year-old husband, William Cohen, in the basement of their East Road residence. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The family had gathered for the Fourth of July holiday, but while other family members had traveled to Portland for the day, Pamela and William remained at home.
The state medical examiner's office subsequently ruled Pamela's death a homicide and William's a suicide. Investigators concluded that William Cohen shot his wife before taking his own life. Law enforcement officials stated that while an investigation into the circumstances and motives surrounding the tragic event would continue, it was unlikely that anyone would face prosecution.
The incident sent shockwaves through the community where the Cohens were well-known and respected. William Cohen was the chair of the Brooklin Board of Selectmen and had a long career in corporate communications. There were no prior indications of trouble, and neither Pamela nor William had a criminal record. Friends and community members expressed their profound shock and disbelief, remembering them as a wonderful couple and active members of their town.
