Limestone woman indicted for murder

CARIBOU – The Aroostook County grand jury on Friday indicted a Limestone woman for the murder last month of a Caswell child care provider.

Laura Kirk, 33, allegedly went to the home of Tara Bell, 27, in Caswell sometime late Dec. 17.

Bell, who had been stabbed multiple times, was found about 6 a.m. in the kitchen of her Libby Road home by a child care customer and her children.

Police first questioned Kirk the day after the murder as a possible witness. At that time, police noticed wounds on her hands, possibly from a struggle. DNA obtained from blood found at Bell’s home later was found to match Kirk’s.

She was arrested four days later at the home of her mother in Limestone.

Police have not yet recovered a weapon, nor has a motive for the murder been established.

Kirk’s three children, who were in the custody of her former husband at the time of the slaying, reportedly used Bell’s child care services.

Kirk is undergoing a psychological evaluation at Bangor Mental Health Institute.

A probable cause hearing had been set for Jan. 17 in 1st District Court in Caribou. But Friday’s indictment eliminates the need for that hearing.