On the day after Christmas in 2021, a 50-year-old White male named Jason "Cowboy" Aubuchon was fatally shot at a residence on Tranquility Lane in Perry, Maine. Emergency responders transported him to Calais Regional Hospital, but he was pronounced dead. An autopsy later confirmed that Aubuchon died from a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation into Aubuchon's death quickly focused on his 40-year-old ex-girlfriend, Danielle Wheeler.
On the night of the incident, Wheeler herself called 911 and stated, "I just shot my ex-boyfriend". When law enforcement arrived at the scene, Wheeler reportedly admitted to shooting Aubuchon in the temple during an argument over drugs. A firearm, identified by Wheeler as the weapon she used, was recovered at the residence.
Further investigation revealed a troubled history between Wheeler and Aubuchon, marked by domestic violence. Friends and acquaintances of Aubuchon reported previous instances of violence, including allegations that Wheeler had stabbed him with a fork and attempted to run him over with a vehicle. In February 2020, Wheeler had been arrested for assaulting Aubuchon in Portland, but the charges were not pursued after he claimed his injuries were from slipping on ice.
Danielle Wheeler was arrested on December 30, 2021, and charged with murder in connection with Aubuchon's death. In May 2023, shortly before her murder trial was scheduled to begin, Wheeler pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. She was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Jason Aubuchon, a former accountant from Florida who had moved to Maine about eight years prior to his death, was a well-known and beloved figure in the Eastport community. Known for his signature cowboy hat and boots, he worked as the pier manager at Quoddy Bay Lobster. Friends remembered him as a kind and generous man who often put others before himself, known for acts of kindness like bringing flowers and fresh seafood to local nursing home residents. His death was a significant loss to the tight-knit community.
