On a tragic day in June of 2011, the small town of Dexter, Maine, was shaken by the violent deaths of a beloved schoolteacher and her two children. Amy Bagley Lake, a 38-year-old Caucasian woman, was killed in her home on June 13, 2011. Also found deceased were her children, 13-year-old Coty and 12-year-old Monica. The investigation by the Maine State Police quickly revealed a grim and heartbreaking scenario: a murder-suicide perpetrated by Amy's estranged husband, 37-year-old Steven Lake.
The events of that day were the culmination of a troubled and abusive relationship. Amy, a dedicated teacher in the Dexter school district, had separated from her husband and had sought legal protection for herself and her children. She had obtained a protection from abuse order against Steven, and in the year leading up to the tragedy, had moved multiple times to try and ensure their safety. Despite these precautions, Steven Lake managed to enter Amy's home.
On the morning of June 13th, Steven Lake used a 12-gauge shotgun to end the lives of his estranged wife and their two children before turning the weapon on himself. The discovery was made after the children's school reported their absence, prompting a police welfare check at the residence. Investigators found a scene of domestic violence that had escalated to the ultimate tragedy.
In the aftermath, it was revealed that Steven Lake had a history of threatening behavior and had been arrested for violating the protection order. A subsequent report highlighted systemic failures that may have contributed to the devastating outcome, pointing to shortcomings in how the legal system handled the domestic violence situation. Steven Lake was identified as the sole suspect, and with his death, the criminal case was closed, leaving a community to mourn the loss of a mother and her children.
