Man admits taking life of woman

BANGOR – The man charged with murdering a Bangor woman last week admitted to detectives that he killed Christina Simonin, 43, according to documents filed Thursday in 3rd District Court.

Ashton L. Moores, 59, allegedly used a wheelbarrow to move her body from his First Street apartment to a nearby Union Street building where he dumped it into a snowbank.

Simonin’s body, wrapped in a bed comforter and a tarp and then stuffed in a plastic bag, was found Saturday by two boys who described it as “mangled.” It had been left between a shed and a car behind an apartment building at 148 Union St.

The victim’s last known address, according to court documents, was 83 First St., Apartment 3A, the same apartment where Moores lived.

In his initial interview with police on Sunday, Moores said he had not seen Simonin since Feb. 15. He changed his story the next day, according to court documents, and said the last time he saw her was Feb. 24.

When asked if he had ever had a sexual relationship with Simonin, Moores allegedly replied, “Nope, never.”

Police found blood in Moores’ First Street apartment and in a wheelbarrow found behind the home of his landlord, according to court documents.

Moores, who has an extensive criminal history, is charged with intentional or knowing murder and depraved and indifferent murder.

Moores was being held Thursday without bail at the Penobscot County Jail.

He did not enter a plea, but is expected to be indicted by the Penobscot County grand jury next month. He is represented by court appointed attorneys Seth Harrow and Terence Harrigan.

The Washington County native, dressed in the bright orange clothes worn by prisoners at the Penobscot County Jail, showed no emotion when he appeared before District Court Judge Jessie Gunther.

“I thought I’d see someone who was mentally and emotionally upset,” said Simonin’s stepsister, Cheryl Whittington, 48, of Bangor, after the hearing. “I didn’t see that. He knows what to do. He’s been in the system and done it before. Now, I hope he won’t do it again.”

Moores’ criminal history consists mostly of setting fires, including one that claimed the life of a 76-year-old man in Orono in 1973.

There was no indication in the affidavit that fire was involved in Simonin’s death.

Dr. Margaret Greenwald, the state medical examiner, told police that Simonin died of multiple traumatic injuries, according to the affidavit. Information on whether a weapon was used to inflict her injuries or whether she was sexually assaulted shortly before her death was not disclosed. The exact time of her death also was not released.

The judge said Thursday that Moores was charged with causing Simonin’s death between Feb. 26 and March 3.

That time frame may be narrowed after prosecutors examine tapes recovered from security cameras at Shaw House, a shelter for homeless youth at 136 Union St., and the Together Place, a drop-in social club providing peer support and recovery services for mentally ill people, at 150 Union St.

The videos, according to court documents, show a male pushing a wheelbarrow between the two buildings from the direction of First Street about midnight on March 2, a Friday. It appeared to contain a large blue bundle, according to court documents.

Four days later, police allegedly found a wheelbarrow similar to the one on the videos behind 216 Hammond St., the home of Moores’ landlord. Moores allegedly admitted using the wheelbarrow. His landlord told police that he had denied the defendant permission to use it about 4:30 p.m. March 2, according to the affidavit.

Moores was arrested and charged with killing Simonin on Wednesday.

Whittington said after Thursday’s 10-minute hearing that the last time she saw her stepsister was in December at the Christmas parade in downtown Bangor. She said she didn’t spend much time with Simonin because she was not comfortable around her friends.

Simonin told her family in February that she had been evicted from her apartment but was staying with friends in the neighborhood.

Although Whittington and other family members worried about Simonin, “we didn’t expect this,” she told reporters. “Normally, people don’t go out and kill people.

“He probably met his match with Chris,” Whittington said.