In the quiet town of West Paris, Maine, the summer of 2008 was shattered by a brutal act of violence that claimed the life of 43-year-old Todd Smith. On July 25th, Smith was found dead inside a remote house on Tuelltown Road, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. His death was part of a double homicide, as the homeowner, 50-year-old Timothy Mayberry, was discovered deceased outside the same residence.
Smith, who was from South Paris, was a friend and sometime employee of Mayberry's painting business.
The investigation into the slayings quickly centered on Duane Christopher Waterman of Sumner, Maine, who had a history of drug-related dealings with Mayberry. It was revealed that Mayberry had given Waterman a significant quantity of OxyContin pills to sell, but Waterman and his wife consumed the drugs instead. They then falsely claimed the drugs had been seized by police. Mayberry, not believing their story, began to pressure them to repay the debt. Tensions escalated further when Mayberry accused Waterman's wife of being a police informant.
On the evening of the murders, Smith and Mayberry were at Mayberry's home watching movies. Later that night, neighbors reported hearing sounds resembling gunshots. The following day, a passing motorist discovered Mayberry's body, which led to the subsequent discovery of Smith's body inside the house. Evidence at the scene, including ballistic analysis and a tire impression consistent with Waterman's vehicle, pointed towards his involvement.
Although Waterman claimed he was fishing with his children at the time of the killings and had sold the murder weapon to Mayberry weeks prior, the evidence compiled by investigators told a different story. In June of the following year, Duane Waterman was convicted on two counts of murder for the deaths of Todd Smith and Timothy Mayberry. He was subsequently sentenced to two concurrent life sentences for the premeditated and violent crimes.
