On a tragic Saturday in Sebago, Maine, the life of 66-year-old Charles L. "Charlie" Cross, a White male, was brought to an abrupt and violent end. On March 5, 2016, Cross was shot and killed outside of his own home on Hancock Pond Road. The distressing event unfolded around noon, with Cross's longtime girlfriend, Paula Simonds, placing the call to the police after the shooting.
The authorities swiftly responded to the scene, and a suspect was taken into custody a short time later.
Bridgton police stopped the vehicle of 67-year-old David Pinkham of Bridgton and arrested him. Pinkham was subsequently charged with murder and held at the Cumberland County Jail. Investigators revealed that the two men were known to each other, with reports identifying Pinkham as Cross's former brother-in-law.
In the wake of the tragic event, it was learned that Charlie Cross was a beloved figure in his community. An avid outdoorsman, he found joy in hunting, fishing, and working on various projects. He was remembered as a devoted companion, a loving father and grandfather, and a gifted storyteller. His sudden death left his family, including his fiancée, children, and grandchildren, in deep sorrow.
The legal process moved forward, and in April 2016, a Cumberland County grand jury indicted David Pinkham on the charge of murder. Pinkham remained in custody following his arrest, as the investigation into the motive behind the shooting continued. While the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter were not immediately made public, the arrest and indictment of a family acquaintance brought a swift, though somber, development to the investigation into the death of Charles Cross.
