In the early morning hours of October 25, 2004, a visit between friends in Anson, Maine, ended in tragedy. Thirty-two-year-old Wayne Crowley, a male resident of the area, was at the home of his friend, Gary Watland. An altercation broke out, leading to Crowley being shot in the head. He was rushed to Redington-Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan before being transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
Despite medical efforts, Crowley remained on life support throughout the day and ultimately succumbed to his injuries that night.
The homeowner, 42-year-old Gary Watland, admitted to shooting Crowley. He claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Crowley had become belligerent and attacked his wife, Susan. Watland told investigators that he had initially fired a warning shot and demanded that Crowley leave his home. He alleged that when Crowley continued to be aggressive and lunged at his wife, he was forced to shoot him to protect his family. The events of that night reportedly followed a day of drinking and target shooting involving the two men.
Following an investigation by the Maine State Police and the Somerset County Sheriff's Department, Gary Watland was arrested and charged with murder on October 26, 2004. In April 2005, he began serving a 25-year sentence for the crime. The case took another turn in June 2009, when authorities uncovered an escape plan orchestrated by Watland's wife, Susan. She was arrested in the parking lot of the Maine State Prison with a handgun and ammunition that she intended to smuggle to her husband. Susan was subsequently charged with aiding an escape and trafficking in prison contraband.
