Presque Isle man indicted in York County slaying

ALFRED – A York County grand jury has indicted two men for murder in separate deaths that occurred within two miles of each other last summer.

Benjamin Humphrey, 29, of Presque Isle was charged with intentional, knowing or depraved murder in the death of a Canadian tourist as the man walked along Old Orchard Beach in the early morning hours July 31.

Walter Moore, 42, of Salem, Mass., was charged with intentional or knowing murder in the death of a friend he is accused of tying up in a wildlife refuge and leaving to bleed to death with her throat and wrists cut.

Humphrey is accused of killing Derek Rogers, 47, of Russell, Ontario, who was found beaten to death on a section of beach in Old Orchard Beach known as Ocean Park.

After a five-day nationwide search, Humphrey was arrested at a shopping mall in Rapid City, S.D., and returned to Maine in early September.

Humphrey’s girlfriend, 23-year-old Aimee Pelletier of Presque Isle, was indicted on charges of hindering apprehension, theft and assault. She is accused of helping Humphrey flee from the state and avoid arrest.

Moore was charged with killing Connie Gagliardi, 41, of Salem, Mass., whose body was found by a hunter Sept. 7 at the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge in Saco.

Police believe that Moore and Gagliardi were friends who traveled to Old Orchard Beach together. According to court documents, police were led to Moore by a Salem woman who said he had confessed to killing her.

The woman told police that Moore had described taking Gagliardi into a wooded area and then suggested that they play a game he called “tie up.”

If convicted, each man faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.