In the quiet town of Naples, Maine, the life of 55-year-old Richard J. Diekema, a White male, came to a tragic and violent end on November 27, 2016. A kind-hearted and hardworking man, he was known by friends and family for his willingness to help others, a trait that may have unwittingly led to his untimely death. Diekema, a skilled mechanic and devoted family man, had recently befriended a man named Norman Strobel and allowed him to move into his mobile home.
The events that culminated
in Diekema's death began the night before. Strobel was the suspect in a shooting in the nearby town of Casco, where he had wounded another man. This act set off a search by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. In the early morning hours of November 27th, deputies tracked Strobel to Diekema's residence on Songo School Road. What they found was a grim scene. Richard Diekema was discovered deceased inside his own home, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound.
The confrontation did not end there. When deputies entered the mobile home, they were met by an armed Norman Strobel. An exchange of gunfire ensued, and Strobel was shot and killed by the officers. The investigation that followed confirmed that Strobel was responsible for Diekema's death before his own demise. No other suspects were identified, and with Strobel's death, the case was brought to a close, leaving a family and community to mourn the loss of a man described as a loving father, son, and friend.
