On a late summer day in Yarmouth, Maine, the life of 40-year-old Lee Holbrook Nason came to a tragic and sudden end. On September 3, 2005, she was fatally shot by her 58-year-old husband, Robert W. Nason, who then took his own life. Authorities investigated the harrowing event and concluded it was a domestic murder-suicide. As the perpetrator was deceased, no arrests were made in connection with Lee's death.
The incident was part of a distressing statistic that year, with over half of the 19 homicides in Maine being related to domestic violence.
Lee was born in Mount Kisco, New York, on March 24, 1965. She pursued a degree in early childhood education from Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts, after graduating from Millbrook School in New York. Her love for children initially led her to a teaching position within the Portland Public School system. This passion culminated in the founding of her own preschool and daycare facility, The Holbrook Center, located in Freeport. Her generous spirit and easy laugh were remembered by those who knew her as defining qualities that she shared freely with her community.
A devoted equestrian, Lee's passion for horses was a central part of her life. In 1992, she established Royal River Farm in Yarmouth, a facility for equine boarding and training. Through her work with the farm, she became a cherished and integral member of the local community, sharing her time and talents broadly. Those who knew her recalled her profound kindness towards all living creatures. Her life, marked by dedication to children and animals, was tragically cut short, leaving a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the wider Yarmouth community.
