Police close Camden murder-suicide investigation

CAMDEN – A woman sought and obtained a protection-from-abuse order eight years ago against the Camden man who police say fatally shot his girlfriend last week, then killed himself.

A spokesman for Maine State Police said Tuesday that investigators were concluding their investigation of what they believe was a murder-suicide Friday.

Paul Turnbull, 49, shot his girlfriend, Kimberly Palmer, 29, twice in the head, then turned the gun on himself, said state police spokesman Stephen McCausland. The shootings took place at Turnbull’s home on Route 52 at the intersection of Molyneaux Road.

A week before, Palmer had indicated to Turnbull that she was ending their one-year-long relationship. “We feel that was the spark that ignited the violence,” McCausland said.

Police have found no record or evidence of any violence in the couple’s relationship before Friday, he said. Camden Police Chief Phil Roberts said Turnbull had a number of motor vehicle infractions, but nothing more serious than that in recent years.

“There was no forewarning,” McCausland said. “The family and friends we talked to said there was no clue this would happen.”

But in 1992, a Camden woman – not Palmer – had secured a protection-from-abuse order against Turnbull, court records reveal. The woman had been involved with Turnbull, but reported to police that he had threatened her. When she returned to her apartment on a New Year’s Eve, she found Turnbull in the home with a sawed-off shotgun, she said.

The woman told Camden police Turnbull had several guns that he hid in various places at his house. Police obtained a warrant and searched Turnbull’s home on Jan. 7, 1992, and seized a sawed-off shotgun. The weapon’s serial number had been removed, police noted on the record of their search.

Turnbull had been convicted of breaking and entering in 1970, McCausland said, and served time at the Maine State Prison.

As a felon, Turnbull could not own any weapons. Police charged him with possession of a firearm by a felon, but the district attorney later dropped the charges. Turnbull’s attorney questioned the woman’s credibility in the documents filed with the charges.

Palmer had worked for Turnbull, an antiques dealer. He ran the Beach House Antiques store in Lincolnville Beach. He also owned a four-unit apartment building in Lincolnville Beach, which had recently been renovated, and operated a moving business.

On Friday, Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley saw the two outside the Rockport Corner Shop about 10 a.m. Turnbull and Palmer were regular customers at the coffee shop.

Kelley said Turnbull was leaning into the window of Palmer’s car that morning, talking with her. “There didn’t appear to be any problems at that time,” he said.

Kelley said Turnbull had lived in the Camden area for at least 20 years.

McCausland said Palmer had been working for Turnbull at his home. She had talked to a girlfriend earlier on Friday and said she planned to go to the house around noon. The friend said Palmer did not seem to have any trepidation about going to the house.

Palmer had not been living at Turnbull’s house, he said.

“She went over there early afternoon,” McCausland said. Police believe Turnbull shot Palmer about 2 p.m. in the kitchen. At 2:50 p.m., Turnbull left a message on his son’s answering machine.

“It was a distraught message,” McCausland said, in which Turnbull said something to the effect that “he had done something stupid.” Turnbull shot himself in the living room of the house, using an antique Colt revolver. No other guns were found in the house.

Pam Young, an owner of the Rockport Corner Shop, said Turnbull and Palmer seemed happy together, and the events of Friday shocked her. “It makes you think hard,” she said.

“They did both come in a lot,” Young said. “They seemed like the perfect little couple. They always acted like they got along great.” They were the kind of customers she was happy to see, she said.

“He always was the perfect gentleman,” Young said of Turnbull.

At the Lincolnville Beach post office, a woman who shopped at Turnbull’s store also spoke favorably of him.

“He was always happy-go-lucky to me,” she said.

Palmer had a 4-year-old son from a previous marriage. She was a 1990 graduate of Camden-Rockport High School. After two years at the University of Maine, Palmer attended the Polarity Realization Institute in Portland. She worked as a polarity therapist. She also studied dance, collected vintage clothing and restored antiques.

Her family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to the Devon A. Palmer Scholarship Fund, care of Camden National Bank, P.O. Box 310, Camden 04843.